Date Published: 12/02/09

Monday, November 30, 2009.

PRESS STATEMENT BY FESTUS KEYAMO ON YAR’ADUA’S HEALTH: NEED FOR THE NIGERIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION TO SPEAK UP

Last week, after many months of speculation, official sources at the Presidency finally admitted that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is afflicted with an ailment called Acute Pericarditis. Since that announcement, we have heard and seen different opinions, both on the internet and from different medical personnel in the country as to the nature of the ailment.

However, it is disturbing that the recognized body of all medical doctors in Nigeria , that is, the Nigerian Medical Association has kept mute over this all-important issue. It is enough indictment on our health system that the President has to be flown abroad each time, even for “routine check-ups”.

But as regards the health of our President, must we depend on the opinions of the doctors in Saudi Arabia who are not Nigerians and do not have the interest of Nigeria at heart when giving their opinions? Nigeria has been known to produce sound doctors who are sought after all over the world, so it is time the Nigeria Medical Association should speak up on this issue.

Specifically, Nigerian wants to know:

1.     Is the disclosed ailment of the President curable or terminal? (may God not allow that to be the case, though!)

2.     Is the ailment such as to incapacitate a person from functioning at a high-level office like that of the President?

3.     If it is curable, how long can it take for the victim to be fully back on his feet?

4.     Have the Nigerian Medical Association made moves to send a team of its doctors to Saudi Arabia to, at least, see the President? The attempt to do this is important and patriotic even if they are finally denied access to the President.

5.     Can the ailment be treated in Nigeria ?

That is why I consider all the calls on the President to resign or stay as premature and ill-conceived without sound and unbiased medical opinion as to the ailment afflicting him. This is because, it is not automatic under our Constitution that when the President is sick, then he must resign. After all, as a human being, like alI of us, the President can fall sick anytime. It is the nature, degree and character of the ailment that will determine whether he is fit to continue in office.

We should note that the lawyers cannot start their debate as to whether the President can continue in office or not without ascertaining the threshold issue of the actual state of health of the President.

So while we pray for the quick recovery of Mr. President, over to the Nigerian Medical Association. It is time to speak up!

Thank you.

FESTUS KEYAMO, ESQ.