In recent memory, only three Nigerian politicians have died while receiving medical care outside the country.
Nevertheless, most politicians are known to shun Nigerian hospitals in favour of seeking medical treatment abroad, in countries such as France and the United Kingdom (UK).
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President Muhammadu Buhari became the latest addition to the infamous list of politicians who died while undergoing medical treatment abroad, when he passed away in a London hospital on Sunday.
Politicians who engage in medical tourism have often faced fierce criticism from Nigerians, who expect them to improve healthcare standards at home rather than patronise foreign medical centres.
On Tuesday, Femi Adesina, Buhari’s former spokesperson, drew the ire of Nigerians on social media after suggesting that his principal—who governed for eight years—could have died long ago had he relied on the expertise available in Nigerian hospitals.
“If he had said ‘I will do my medicals in Nigeria’ just as a show-off or something, he could have long been dead because there may not be the expertise needed in the country,” Adesina said during Channels Television’s coverage of Buhari’s burial on Tuesday.
“But he needed to be alive to be able to lead the country to a point when we will have that expertise.”
However, critics have rejected the former presidential spokesperson’s assertion that Buhari needed to stay alive in order to lead the country to a point when the right “expertise” would be available, arguing that he still sought treatment abroad after having eight years to reform Nigeria’s health sector and failing at it.
EKO HOT BLOG has compiled a list of Nigerian politicians who died while seeking medical treatment abroad:
1. Muhammadu Buhari
Buhari, who governed Nigeria twice—first as a military ruler for about 20 months and later as a civilian president for eight years—died in London while undergoing treatment for a prolonged illness.
He regularly travelled to London for medical care, a development that sparked public outcry over the medical tourism of public officials and drew attention to the poor state of Nigerian hospitals throughout his time in office.
For instance, on August 19, 2017, Buhari returned to Nigeria after spending 103 days in London receiving treatment. Over his eight-year presidency, he spent at least 200 days abroad for medical reasons.
He was buried on Tuesday.
2. Rotimi Akeredolu
In early 2023, Rotimi Akeredolu, the outspoken and influential governor of Ondo State, was diagnosed with leukaemia. Already battling prostate cancer, his health deteriorated rapidly, prompting multiple medical trips abroad.
By December, his condition had become critical. He was flown to Germany for specialised treatment and admitted to a hospital near Hanover.
Despite efforts to stabilise him, Akeredolu passed away on 27 December 2023, far from home and the state he had led for nearly seven years.
3. Alex Ekwueme
Like Buhari, Alex Ekwueme, Nigeria’s first elected Vice President, died on November 19, 2017, at a clinic in London.
After being diagnosed with a chest infection and slipping briefly into a coma, his condition raised serious concern among family members and the federal government. President Buhari subsequently ordered that he be flown abroad for urgent, advanced treatment.
He was admitted to the London Clinic, where doctors initially reported some improvement. However, just one week after his arrival, Ekwueme passed away peacefully.
Notable Mention: Umaru Musa Yar’Adua
President Yar’Adua died in office on May 5, 2010. Although he passed away in Abuja, his death came after spending several months receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia.
He had been returned to Nigeria under the cover of darkness a few months before his death, and was never seen in public again. He was reportedly returned to the country after he stopped responding to treatment.
FURTHER READING
His prolonged absence from office triggered a constitutional crisis that led to the invocation of the “doctrine of necessity”, as he had failed to formally hand over power to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to act in his stead.
Philip Ibitoye is a Special Correspondent with EKO HOT BLOG. Click here to find daily analysis and critical insight on trending issues in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
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