Femi Adesina, Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, says he does not know who is paying for the President’s medical expense in London, where he has been for 100 days.
Adesina, who was part of the delegation that visited Buhari in London on Sunday, said this while appearing as a guest on Channel Television’s Politics Tonight.
Buhari has been roundly criticised concealing the nature of the President’s ailment despite treating him with public funds.
When asked who was paying for Buhari’s medical treatment, Adesai replied: “Does it matter at this point? If he [Buhari] is our President, it also means he has access to some things.
“Let me say I do not know who is paying but as a President, he has a right to be treated by the country. He has the right.”
When the presenter insisted on knowing whether Nigeria was paying for the treatment, Adesina said: “Most likely. I do not know for sure but most likely.”
On the presidential jet that was packed at the London airport and the accruing demurage, Adesina said: “It has to be there; it has to be there. I don’t think that’s a problem, is it?
“We should pay if we should pay but don’t forget that an explanation had come earlier that we were not paying the official rate and that’s still the position. When the President of a country is somewhere, his plane should be there.”
Asked how much is being paid for the President’s jet on a daily basis, he said: “I don’t know. If you reach out to the commander of the presidential fleet, he will tell you.”
Adesina maintained that Buhari was “sharp, smart and lucid” when they visited him on Sunday.
“The President is almost completely mended, but then… he will come back when his doctors say it is time to go,” he added.
Gentlemen of the press we used to look up to are losing their credibility by the day. First it was Reuben Abati, now Femi Adesina. If we can’t rely on legal luminaries, religious personalities and gentle men of the press, where hence is our light and truth as a nation?