‘Zahra Buhari’ unsettles presidency with comment on State House Clinic

An Instagram post attributed to Zahra, President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, is causing ripples in the presidency, TheCable understands.

The post, whose author TheCable could not verify, was critical of the condition of the State House Medical Centre.

Although Zahra has an Instagram account, the original post could not be located and might have been deleted.

Jalal Arabi, the state house permanent secretary who oversees the clinic, is riled by the post and has ordered immediate investigation into its sorry state, presidency sources told TheCable.

Although over N3 billion was budgeted for the clinic in 2016 and N331 million in 2017, necessities like syringe, gloves and drugs – even Paracetamol – are missing in the facility.

“More than N3billion budgeted for the State House clinic and workers there don’t have the equipment to work with? Why?” read the post attributed to the president’s daughter.

“Where is the money going to? Medication only stocked once since the beginning of the year? Why? State House Permanent Secretary please answer.

“Why isn’t there simple Paracetamol, gloves, syringes… Why do patients/staff have to buy what they need in the state house clinic?”

The hospital was established to cater to the medical needs of the president, the vice-president, their families and presidential aides.

Calls and text messages to Arabi’s mobile line by TheCable were not replied but an insider said “heads may roll”.

In August, TheCable did a report on the embarrassing situation at the hospital.

An outpatient had revealed how those who seek medical attention there were required to fuel an ambulance in the case of an emergency.

“Patients admitted in the clinic buy all prescribed drugs from outside the facility. And in all the wards whether dental or surgical, they are required to get the material for their treatment, even cotton wool,” the source had said.

Top government officials hardly make use of Aso Villa Clinic. Earlier in the year when he was indisposed, President Muhammadu Buhari travelled to the UK to receive medical attention.

The situation at the clinic in Nigeria’s seat of power is similar to what obtains in many government hospitals across the nation.