Femi Adesina, former media adviser to late President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed that despite spending long periods in London for medical treatment, the former Nigerian leader never owned a house in the city and relied on the generosity of friends to foot his bills.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, July 15, Adesina addressed longstanding rumours that Buhari kept a personal residence in the UK, where he often travelled for medical care.
“There was a time he was in the High Commission for many months when he went on that eight-month medical vacation,” Adesina recalled.
“For about three-quarters of that period, he was in the High Commissioner’s apartment. The High Commissioner even moved to a smaller place so the President could stay in his official residence.”
Adesina explained that Buhari had been using the same team of doctors in London even before his presidency, which was why he continued his treatment there.
“Before he became President, he had always done his medicals in London, the same set of doctors. Those who knew his medical history continued with him instead of starting afresh,” he said.
READ ALSO: Buhari Would Have Long Been Dead if He Used Nigerian Hospitals — Femi Adesina
On how Buhari managed the costs of these trips and his treatment abroad, Adesina said the former President often leaned on the goodwill of influential allies.
“I doubt if he paid for those bills himself. President Buhari just needed to call anybody, the Dangotes, the Abdusalamis, and they would oblige. This last trip he made, I know the jets of the person he went in,” Adesina stated.
He also addressed the controversies that trailed Buhari’s children attending expensive schools abroad, a topic that had stirred criticism online.
“When I asked him about the noise online over the schools his children attended, he told me, ‘I do not know. It’s my friends that pay it.’ He even said I should go and see Modi, his wise brother, who had the details,” Adesina said.
Reflecting on Buhari’s character, Adesina described him as “a man of goodwill” who earned the loyalty and support of many throughout his life.
“He was a man who believed in his people and country and did the best he could,” he added.