Human rights lawyer and activist, Chidi Odinkalu, has issued a pointed reminder to Nigerian political leaders about the consequences of neglecting the nation’s healthcare system, stating that those who die overseas ultimately return to the country as cargo.
Odinkalu made the remarks on Sunday while reacting to the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in a London hospital after a prolonged illness.
“Nigeria’s current rulers may need to be reminded: Those who die in foreign hospitals only get to return to the country as cargo,” he stated.
“They don’t pass through @immigrationng. Rather we clear them through @CustomsNG as import. If you don’t want this, build a hospital that can work for you.”
Reflecting further, Odinkalu invoked the memory of the 2015 Zaria Massacre, where members of the Shiite community were allegedly killed under Buhari’s leadership.
“I remember today all the #Shiites liquidated in the #ZariaMassacre in Dec 2015 under the orders of the C-In-C, including 3 sons of Sheikh El-Zakzaky. Their remains were transported in at least 47 trucks & buried in #MassGraves in Mando Kaduna,” he added.
Buhari died on Sunday in London, drawing tributes from across the country.
President Bola Tinubu, in an official statement, described the late former leader as “a patriot, a soldier, and a statesman,” noting that his legacy of service and sacrifice would be remembered.
Tinubu also directed all national flags to fly at half-mast and instructed Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to accompany Buhari’s remains back to Nigeria.
