Lawyers, labour and Christian leaders seek laws to force Buhari, others to declare health status

Aisha, wife of President Buhari was one of those that visited him in London where he is on vacation and undergoing medical checkups by his doctors

- NBA chairman, Ikeja branch, Adesina Ogunlana says it is only reasonable for people to know the health status of their leaders

- Femi Falana says constitution should amended to make contestants for political positions to undergo medial checkups and submit results to INEC

- CAN, TUC, medical associations, Arewa Consultative Forum, Federation of Middle-belt Group and Ijaw Youth Council all agree that the constitution should be amended to make leaders declare their health status.

Organisations representing Nigerians across different spheres of life have called for constitutional provisions that will force President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders in the future to declare their health status.

The Punch reports that due to the ongoing saga surrounding the president’s health, organisations like the Nigerian Bar Association, Christian Association of Nigeria, Trade Union Congress as well as socio-cultural groups, health sector unions and some prominent Nigerians have urged federal lawmakers to amend the constitution to force public office holders to make public their health status.

The report quoted Issa Manzuma, chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin branch, as saying that the President, Vice President and other public officials should be mandated by the constitution to make their health status public.

He said on phone: “The President is the first public officer of the nation, so it will be right for him to make his health status public and for other public office holders to also make theirs public. There should be nothing secret about the health status of public officers, especially the President.

“It is only in the third world countries where the health status of the President and other public officers is made secret. It is not like that in advanced countries. When their leaders are undergoing operations for certain ailments, the information will be in the open.”

NBA chairman, Ikeja branch, Adesina Ogunlana, agrees.

He said: “It is a reasonable thing for citizens to demand to know and make it a point of electoral decision. Why will I vote for a man who is not fit to carry the burden of a particular office? And we are talking about the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. To occupy such an office, it takes someone who is very strong physically, mentally and emotionally.

“Personally, I support the call to have an amendment that will mandate public office holders to disclose their health status but whether the politicians will not make a fool of such an initiative is a different case.”

To top lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) says the constitution should force political aspirants to undergo medical examinations.

He said: “Under the Freedom of Information Act, President Buhari cannot be compelled to disclose his health status. The constitution has, however, imposed a duty on the Federal Executive Council to ask the President to resign on medical ground if he is unable to discharge the functions of his office on account of infirmity of mind or body.

“As the cabinet members will always be reluctant to ask the President to step down, the constitution should be amended to compel all contestants to undergo a compulsory medical examination and submit the report to the INEC.”

CAN’s director of legal and public affairs Kwamkur Samuel also agrees. He said: “I will advise that in the process of amending the constitution, the National Assembly should consider an amendment that will prevent our leaders hiding any medical challenges which may not make them perform their functions effectively.

“Any medical challenge that will prevent a public officer from performing his function should be checked because they are going there for a rigorous assignment and not pleasure. If you have any medical challenge that will make you not to perform your function effectively, you should let the public know. There should be a law that will prevent public office holders from keeping their health status a secret.”

President of the Trade Union Congress Bobboi Bala Kaigama expressed doubts that Nigerian politicians would be truthful with the process if employed.

He said: “Why not (have such a law) if it is the global practice, but which health institution will verify the health status if it is faked by the politician?”

Also backing the constitutional amendment are the Coordinator of Federation of Middle-belt Group, Mr. Manasseh Watyil, the President of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima and spokesperson of Ijaw Youth Council Eric Omare.