Date Published: 02/28/10

Yar’Adua’s Physician Must Be Decertified By Prof. Edward Oparaoji

The total loss of credibility by and humiliation of President Umar Musa Yar’Adua in the course of the current political crisis could have been avoided, if rather than have a “thieving” cabinet, he has surrounded himself with people with his best interest at heart. While most of the actors are well known discredited political kleptocrats, one would have had a higher expectation of his personal physician, Dr. Salisu Banye, whose singular focus would have been his patient’s physical and psychological health, devoid of political calculations. For the most part, he was missing in action, and failed woefully when it came to updating the nation on Yar’Aduas health status. Dr Banye, at a minimum should have been debriefing Nigerians weekly on his patient’s state of health. Yar’Adua, in his most vulnerable moment needed his doctor to be his trusted health advocate, but instead Dr. Banye became absorbed and assimilated by the “thieving” cabinet, who rendered him totally useless and worthless.

While medical practitioners are not God, they are revered in society for their credibility and dedication to the wellness of their patients, especially during their most vulnerable moment. When Dr Banye told the world that his patient was rushed and admitted to a hospital in Saudi Arabia for “Acute Pericarditis”, it quickly became clear to both health experts and lay persons that there was more to the story. Rather than reappear and salvage his reputation with a revised update, Dr Banye went underground and never to be seen or heard from in public again. Any medical student let alone a certified medical practitioner or specialist would know that a wrong or incomplete health assessment leads to incorrect treatment or management plan. Dr. Banye by not being forthcoming with Nigerians, became the main culprit in this crisis and responsible for all the associated medical and political costs. If he had leveled with Nigerians, Yar’Adua would have long before now voluntarily, peacefully and creditably transmitted power to his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan. As a result of Dr Banye’s incompetence, Yar’Adua has remained in hiding as hostage of the “thieving” cabinet for more than 90 days..

The subsequent heightened local and international demand for answers about his status, where about, and absence from duty, became a diplomatic nightmare for Saudi Arabia, who became equally frustrated by lack of access to Yar’Adua, and decided to prematurely eject him from the country. Contrary to some media reports Yar’Adua’s return (a.k.a Yar’Adua smuggle) was neither strategic nor voluntary.  Saudi Arabia didn’t find him worthwhile risking their relationship with the West or to be blamed for any consequent disruption of global oil supply. At the time of writing this piece, Yar’Adua, the President of our oil rich nation and most populous  black nation in the world, is reportedly isolated, on life support, in an ambulance, not in a hospital. What a sad narrative! Yar’Adua, thanks or thanks to the incompetence of Dr. Banye is presently getting a very expensive substandard care. An ambulance no matter how sophisticated is only appropriate and equipped for emergency transitional not critical care. While I do not care or have sympathy for Yar;Adua’s political health, I am deeply saddened at how his personal health has been so badly mismanaged, not just for his sake, but to the extent that it represents our  atrocious healthcare system . It makes you wonder, where are Nigeria’s medical referees, the various health associations and advocates, the Nigerian Medical Association? While Yar’Adua’s chances of recovery may not have diminished since returning from Saudi Arabia, but should he be declared officially dead while in the ambulance, Dr Banye must be held accountable, decertified and prosecuted for malpractice.  

Nevertheless, politically speaking, Yar’Adua’s  “ smuggle” return signals the begriming of the end for his visionless and feckless regime. He and his “thieving” cabinet can no longer lie about or blame lack of access to him on a foreign government's protocol.. He has lost all credibility and cannot be taken seriously at home and abroad. It is also beyond doubt that he will be incapacitated for a very long while. For all intents and purposes, Yar'Adua's regime is dead and  must be buried now, so we can move forward and refocus our fight to restructure our polity.

Prof. Edward Oparaoji, PharmD

Pennsylvania-USA Based Cardio-Renal Specialist