If you are going into public office, you have no secrecy, Falana speaks on Buhari's health

If you are going into public office, you have no secrecy, Falana speaks on Buhari's health

- A renowned lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana have condemned President Muhammadu Buhari for not disclosed the status of his health condition to Nigeria

- Falana said Nigerians have the right to know the health status of a sitting president

- The senior lawyer said this can be done even if the law does not mandate the president to make such disclosures

If you are going into public office, you have no secrecy, Falana speaks on Buhari health

A renowned lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana have condemned President Muhammadu Buhari for not disclosed the status of his health condition to Nigeria.

Falana said Nigerians have the right to know the health status of a sitting president.

Speaking on a Channel television’s programme, Falana said even if the law does not mandate the president to make such disclosures, Nigerians deserve to know his health status.

READ ALSO: Buhari must not die now, but remain alive to see how Igbo people will leave Nigeria - Uwazuruike

“Under the Freedom of Information Act, the right to health is supposed to be shrouded in secrecy but I am saying now that henceforth, this situation calls for a review of the law so that we won’t be left guessing next time,” Falana said.

“We are talking of the President. Many state governors go in and out of the country, some for a month or two, some for three months without anybody asking any question and without any handover to their deputies,” he said.

The senior lawyer said the system has been structured in a manner that a public office holder does not have to be secretive about issues concerning him.

READ ALSO: Buhari's health: It’s high time the president said something so that suspicion will die down – Bishop Ezeokafor

Falana said: “But I am saying that with what we are going through now, we must come to appreciate that if you are going into public office, you have no secrecy.”

“It is our duty and right and the President took cognizance of that last year when he disclosed to Nigerians what he was going abroad for. This year should not be an exception.

“This is what has given room to a lot of rumours and speculation which are totally uncalled for,” he said.

READ ALSO: Anybody can die, fall sick and also get well, Adesina downplays Buhari’s health issues

President Muhammadu Buhari had written to the Senate to extend his initial 10-days’ vacation.

However, the president’s letter has raised controversies with Nigerians calling for a total disclosure of the Buhari present health status

Meanwhile, the vice president Yemi Osinbajo has assumed duty as the acting president of Nigeria.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Nnenna Ibeh avatar

Nnenna Ibeh Nnenna Ibeh is a journalist with over 10 years of experience with various media organisations including Premium Times. Being on the front burner of reporting politics and the different dimensions of governance, she is also passionate about girls' education and women's and children's health. With degrees in Journalism, Peace Studies & Conflict Res., and Dev. Studies, Nnenna has worked in the dev. sector as a communications officer for the Centre for Democracy and Dev. email: ibehnnenna@gmail.com