Nigeria: President Buhari under pressure to take leave of power because of poor health

Members of Nigerian civil society joined forces Tuesday to call on 74-year-old President Muhammadu Buhari to step down from power, ensuring that his health problems did not allow him to lead the country.In an open letter signed by 13 prominent figures from Nigeria, including Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer and Jibrin Ibrahim, a respected political scientist, they are "forced to advise her to follow the advice of her doctors and rest Without further delay. "
His repeated absences at the top of the State "have nurtured speculation and rumors" about his health, adds the signed letter of May 1 received Tuesday as reported by AFP.The head of state returned in early March from an eight-week stay in London, where he received treatment for an unspecified illness. His Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo acted as interim during his absence, in accordance with the Constitution.

Since then, Mr. Buhari has been absent from the last two ministers' councils. He also did not go to the mosque for the weekly prayer last Friday, nor to the wedding of one of his grandchildren on Saturday.On his return from London, he declared that he did not have "the memory of having been so ill": "I do not remember the last time I had blood transfusions," he had only Explained, without revealing the nature of his illness."Why does the president hide his state of health?" "Wole Soyinka, a Nobel Prize winner in literature, and very active in civil society, said last week. "He should understand that it belongs to the public domain. "Many politicians, first from the opposition and then gradually from the president's party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), were also worried about the blocking situation that might result from his absence in business, Delegate its power to the Vice-President, as provided for in the Constitution, during a period of recession.The issue of the health of the head of State is sensitive in Nigeria since in 2010, President Umaru Yar'Adua died of kidney problems, long hidden from the general public. His hospitalization abroad triggered months of political uncertainty until his death, which finally brought to power the second personality of the State, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan for the rest of his term. Mr. Jonathan then won the 2011 presidential election.If President Buhari should no longer exercise power, he would normally be replaced by Vice President Osinbajo until the next election scheduled for February 2019.

Tags: AFP