President Buhari will not resign. The special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, says the demands of the civil society groups that are staging a protest in Abuja, are not known to the laws of Nigeria.
The groups said in a statement on Saturday, that, Charly Boy, entertainer and activist, would lead a protest to ask that President Muhammadu Buhari resume office or resign.
President Buhari has been receiving medical attention in the United Kingdom since May 7. His long absence has fuelled speculations about his health.
Speaking when he appeared on Sunday Politics, a programme on Channels Television, on Sunday, Adesina said the president would only return after his doctors certify him fit.
Asked if Buhari would comply with the demands of the group, he said: “Well, the president would always do what is legal and constitutional. What they are asking for is not known to our laws.
“The president will stand by our laws at all times. He will uphold the laws, he will protect them.”
Adesina added that he could not state the period when the president would return but said it is in the public domain that Buhari is recuperating very fast.
The civil society groups have promised to continue their protest – a sit-in – at the Unity Fountain in Abuja until the president either returns or resigns.
“Today is the 90th day since President Muhammadu Buhari left the country on a medical tourism in London,” they had said in a statement.
“We are writing to inform the general public, local and international media, civil society groups that Mr Charles Oputa, AKA Charlie Boy and other prominent Nigerians will be leading the Monday daily sit-out at the Unity Fountain by 10am.
“The flag-off of the daily sit-out will commence with a procession from the Unity Fountain to Aso Rock by 9am prompt.
“The London leg of the protest which is scheduled to hold at the Abuja House, London by 11am (UK time) will be led by Comrade Chidi Cali, Barrister Bob and several others.
No past US President with health challenges was removed or resigned while in Office
by Prof. Francis Osita Onukwuli
National Publicity Secretary APC-USA Chapter
Vice Chairman APC-USA Georgia Branch
From heart failure to depression, U.S. presidents have suffered from common health problems. American first 10 war-hero presidents brought a history of illness to the White House, including dysentery, malaria, and yellow fever. Later, many American Presidents attempted to hide their ailing health from the public, making health a medical and political issue.
Clearly, Charlie Oputa and his uninformed group of demonstrators need to take a good look through history and learn about the health issues of past US Presidents in the White House. This history is capable of making the demonstrators think otherwise.
Andrew Jackson: 1829-1837
The seventh president suffered from emotional and physical maladies. When the 62-year-old was inaugurated, he was remarkably thin, and had just lost his wife to a heart attack. He suffered from rotting teeth, chronic headaches, failing eyesight, bleeding in his lungs, internal infection, and pain from two bullet wounds from two separate duels.
Grover Cleveland: 1893-1897
Cleveland was the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms, and suffered throughout his life with obesity, gout, and nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys). When he discovered a tumor in his mouth, he underwent surgery to remove part of his jaw and hard palate. He recovered, experiencing disfiguration of his mouth, but ultimately died of a heart attack after his retirement in 1908.
William Taft: 1909-1913
Taft suffered from morbid obesity. At over 300 pounds, he was the fattest president in history. Through aggressive dieting, he lost nearly 100 pounds, which he continually gained and lost throughout his lifetime. Taft’s weight initiated sleep apnea, which disrupted his sleep and caused him to be tired during the day and sometimes sleep through important political meetings. Also due to his excessive weight, he suffered from high blood pressure and heart problems.
Woodrow Wilson: 1913-1921
Along with hypertension, headaches, and double vision, Wilson suffered from a series of strokes. These strokes affected his right hand, leaving him unable to write normally for a year. More strokes rendered Wilson blind in his left eye, paralyzing his left side and forcing him into a wheelchair. He kept his paralysis a secret. Once discovered, it instigated the 25th Amendment, stating that the vice president will take power upon the president’s death or resignation.
Franklin D. Roosevelt: 1933-1945
At the age of 39, the FDR experienced a severe attack of polio, resulting in total paralysis of both legs. He funded extensive polio research, which led to the creation of its vaccine. One of Roosevelt’s main health problems began in 1944, when he started showing signs of anorexia and weight loss. In 1945, Roosevelt experienced a severe pain in his head, which was diagnosed as a massive cerebral hemorrhage. He died shortly after.
John F. Kennedy: 1961-1963
Although this young president projected youth and vitality, he was in fact hiding a life-threatening disease. Even through his short term, Kennedy chose to keep secret his 1947 diagnosis of Addison’s disease—an incurable disorder of the adrenal glands. Due to chronic back pain and anxiety, he developed an addiction to painkillers, stimulants, and anti-anxiety medication.
Ronald Reagan: 1981-1989
Reagan was the oldest man to seek the presidency and was considered by some to be medically unfit for the position. He struggled constantly with poor health. Reagan experienced urinary tract infections (UTIs), underwent removal of prostate stones, and suffered from temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ) and arthritis. In 1987, he had operations for prostate and skin cancers, and suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. His wife, Nancy, was diagnosed with breast cancer and his daughter died from skin cancer.
George H.W. Bush: 1989-1993
The senior Bush almost died as a teenager from a staph infection. As a Naval Aviator, Bush was exposed to head and lung trauma. Throughout his lifetime, he suffered several bleeding ulcers, arthritis, and various cysts. He was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation due to hyperthyroidism and, like his wife and family dog, was diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder Graves’ disease.
Warren Harding: 1921-1923
The 24th president suffered from many mental disorders. Between 1889 and 1891, Harding spent time in a sanitarium to recover from fatigue and nervous illnesses. His mental health took a serious toll on his physical health, causing him to gain an excessive amount of weight and experience insomnia and exhaustion. He suffered from heart failure and died suddenly and unexpectedly after a game of golf in 1923.
Dwight D. Eisenhower: 1953-1961
The 34th president endured three major medical crises during his two terms in office: heart attack, stroke, and Crohn’s disease. Eisenhower instructed his press secretary to inform the public of his condition after his heart attack in 1955. Six months before the election of 1956, Eisenhower was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and underwent surgery, from which he recovered. One year later, the president suffered a mild stroke, which he was able to overcome.
As these presidents have illustrated, anyone can suffer from the diseases, illnesses, and maladies prevalent in our society, from obesity to heart disease. Anyone, including our President, Muhammadu Buhari can suffer from the diseases common in the White House as well as throughout the world, including depression, anxiety, stroke, and arthritis.
Now, let us continue to pray for the quick recovery of our beloved and God-sent President who continues to wage war on corruption. Yes, if Nigeria will witness prosperity in the near future, then defeating corruption today is a task that must be done and overcome.
Prof. Francis Osita Onukwuli writes from Atlanta, Georgia USA