‘Shameful’: Nigerians react to ex-Head of State Abdulsalami’s appearance in Indian hospital advert
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Nigerians have criticised former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar over his appearance in a promotional advert for an Indian hospital, saying it entrenches the country’s elite reliance on medical tourism.
In the advert, Shalby Multi-Specialty Hospital featured Abdulsalami as a patient who underwent knee replacement surgery at its facility.
Some Nigerians who reacted to the advert on social media described it as embarrassing that a former Nigerian head of state had become the face of a promotional campaign for an overseas hospital.
Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, described Abdulsalami’s appearance in the advert as a tragic indictment of the failures of successive governments in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
He said: “This is former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, being used in a hospital advert after undergoing knee replacement surgery in India.
“These so-called ‘experienced leaders’ had every opportunity while in power to build first-class healthcare facilities. Yet, in old age, they travel abroad for the very medical care they failed to make adequately available at home and can even end up as advertisements for foreign hospitals.
“At this rate, perhaps one day a hospital in France will be using a Nigerian president, Tinubu, for its adverts.
“What a tragic indictment of decades of failed leadership and neglect of Nigeria’s healthcare system.”
An X user, @OurFavOnlineDoc, also criticised the development, saying: “This is a former Nigerian head of state being used as advert material for a private hospital promo clip in India.
“Nigerian leaders will squander the chance to build world-class hospitals but do nothing, then later go to other countries to seek healthcare from those nations that were not as stupid as them.
“What a shame.”
Another X user, @AloyEjimakor, described the advert as a “diplomatic INSULT.”
He said: “It is a diplomatic INSULT for an Indian hospital to use the image of former Nigerian Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, as an advert for knee replacement surgery in India. Even VP Shettima is in tow. It is a national embarrassment that portrays Nigeria as a banana republic.”
Similarly, @BalogunGbolah17 wrote: “Former Nigerian Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar reportedly appears in a hospital advert in India after undergoing knee replacement surgery there.
“Leaders who had years in power to build world-class healthcare in Nigeria now travel abroad for treatment.
“If this continues, will we soon see Tinubu advertising a hospital in France?”
