From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
National Secretary of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Peter Ameh, has claimed that Aso Rock Clinic has remained a conduit pipe under President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
Describing it as anti-patriotism and misplaced priority, Ameh, a former national chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), noted that the recent revelation that President Tinubu’s picture with King Charles was a ruse to conceal his emergency medical treatment at St Mary’s hospital in London is a stark reminder of lack of transparency and accountability in government.
Ameh, in a statement to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, lamented that despite the claim by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to prioritising healthcare, Tinubu’s secret medical trip abroad exposes the true state of the nation’s health infrastructure.
He further claimed that after the two successive APC administration spent a staggering total sum of N52 billion, President Tinubu still deemed it necessary to seek medical attention in London.
“The fact that our President sought medical attention outside Nigeria raises serious concerns about national security and sovereignty. It is unacceptable that the health status of our President is being hidden from the public, and his medical treatment is being outsourced to foreign countries.
“This not only puts our national security at risk but also undermines our sovereignty. This situation is a clear indication of the misplaced sense of patriotism and lack of vision of our leaders.
“Rather than investing in our national health infrastructure, they choose to squander public funds on white elephant projects and seek medical attention abroad. This is a betrayal of the trust placed in them by the Electoral Commission,” he noted.
Reacting further, Ameh, a former presidential candidate wrote: “We need to be more concerned about the implications of our President’s medical treatment abroad and demand transparency and accountability from our leaders. The health status of our President is a matter of national security and sovereignty, and we cannot afford to compromise on this. It is time for Nigerians to wake up and demand better from their leaders.
“The unending renovation of the Aso Rock clinic are stark reminder of the misplaced priorities and endemic corruption that have characterised the APC government’s handling of public funds. Despite spending a whopping N31 billion on renovations under President Buhari, the clinic remains in a deplorable state, unable to cater to the health needs of our President.
“In a shocking display of extravagance, President Tinubu has deemed it fit to spend an additional N21 billion on further renovations, bringing the total expenditure to a staggering N52 billion. This is a clear case of budgetary overhead and a slap in the face of Nigerians who continue to suffer from inadequate healthcare.
“Furthermore, the repeated budget overhead on renovating Aso Rock Clinic has failed to yield any positive outcomes for the hospital, what is with the budgetary allocation to the hospital is a clear case of pandemic corruption. Despite the profligate spending, the clinic remains in a deplorable state, unable to cater to the health needs of our President.
“The irony of the situation is that despite this huge spending, President Tinubu still deemed it necessary to seek medical attention at St Mary’s hospital in London. This raises serious questions about the efficacy of the renovations and the true intentions behind them,” he noted in the statement.
