Hold it right there, SNG

President Muhammadu Buhari

The Save Nigeria Group, (SNG) has issued a 74-hour ultimatum to the Presidency to furnish it with full information on the health situation of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently believed to be receiving medical attention in London.

Given our experience with former President Yar Adua, I appreciate and respect the concerns of the SNG. But please, somebody should remind them that though they have a right to know whether the President is sick or not, they do not have right to demand his "full medical information".  Medical record of anybody falls within the realm of confidentiality, which also falls within the larger realm of professional ethics. It is personal information to be shared solely between the patient and his physician or any other person the patient consents to.

Beyond the basic minimum, medical information is not to be shared with third parties, or the public for that matter, unless the patient (in this case President Buhari) choses to divulge it to the public as a matter courtesy; or unless the ailment in question poses threat to public health, in which case divulging the information to the public would serve as a way of mitigating its spread – if it is an infectious one, that is.

I agree the SNG has a right to seek information about the President but if the information being sought is personal (as this is), then I am afraid they do not have the right to have it. This is even so, insofar as the group is not a professional body that can possibly proffer any solution to the ailment.

Let us get things right and not politicize everything. As far as can be determined, there is no power vacuum. President Buhari has fulfilled the requirement of Section 145 of the Constitution with regards to his absence – unlike the case with former President Umar Musa Yar Adua. Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo is now Acting President until Buhari returns.

There is also no constitutional prescription of the length of time the President can be absent. So, there is hardly any need to invoke the Doctrine of Necessity.  So please let’s move on. The country can function without Buhari. All we should be doing now is to pray for his speedy recovery.

May the Lord Almighty grant President Buhari speedy recovery and safe return back home, Amen.