African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has criticised former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, over his appearance in a promotional video by an Indian hospital where he reportedly underwent knee replacement surgery.
Sowore described the use of the former Nigerian leader’s image in the hospital’s advertisement as a troubling reflection of the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
According to him, “Abdulsalami failed to help build a world-class healthcare system in Nigeria during his time in office but now relies on foreign medical institutions for treatment in old age.”
He questioned why a former head of state would feature in promotional material for medical treatment received outside Nigeria, linking the development to the country’s longstanding challenges in providing specialised healthcare.
The AAC candidate argued that successive Nigerian administrations had failed to build a healthcare system capable of meeting the needs of citizens seeking advanced medical treatment.
The controversy has renewed public debate over medical tourism and the need for greater investment in Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure and specialist services.
Abdulsalami, who ruled Nigeria from 1998 to 1999, has not publicly responded to Sowore’s criticism.
