The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has kept the apparent ill health of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu a secret even though its spokesman, Lai Mohammed, believes the health profile of all public figures must be made known to the people.

Even though there are indications that the former Governor of Lagos State may be battling ill health, his media team and that of the party have stoically denied that Tinubu has or had any health problems.

The ACN through Mohammed had slammed the Presidency for failing to fully disclose the health situation of Dame Patience Jonathan. The party had maintained that the inconsistencies of the information flowing about her health have put a dent on the credibility of the Presidency.

According to Mohammed, the party “reiterated its earlier stand that the health of public officials cannot and must not be a closet affair, because it is of public interest. While it may be argued, though not conceded, that the First Lady is not a public official by virtue of her position, she is a public official by virtue of her being a Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State.”

But observers contend that the health status of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who had been hospitalised twice, first in August 2011 and in February 2012, for what sources said was partial stroke, should be disclosed since he was a former governor and leader of a party, and the people deserve to know.

Today there are fresh indications that his health has dipped. The nature of the ailment is being heavily guarded; his very close confidants are attributing it to stress induced to those curious enough to enquire.

In the last few months the leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria has been very unsteady in his right hand, giving rise to speculations that he may be having initial bouts of Parkinson’s disease.

Also his frame has been a cause for worry. In the last few months, Tinubu has lost a great deal of weight, fuelling speculations that he may be abusing substance, which may include cocaine or heroin.

This is coupled with the fact that he is often incoherent and slurred as evident when he addressed supporters at the last campaign rally of the party’s Ondo governorship candidate, Chief … Akeredolu, in Akure.

He finds it difficult holding firm to a spoon or microphone with his very unsteady right hand.

His bulging eyes are becoming very prominent these days. This, according to medical experts, could be signs of thyroid disease.

Investigations revealed that the situation is being quietly and efficiently managed.

Further findings revealed that the former governor has been battling this phenomenon on and off for a while.

His strong supporters tagged the development a conspiracy between the fasting he undertook and the stress of overseeing his political and business empires.

He was believed to have gone for quick medication in the midst of visits to Saudi Arabia and Dubai.

His media team had said then: “We wish to state for the record and without any iota of doubt that Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu enjoys good health and continues with his normal political and business activities. These activities have necessitated trips in and outside Nigeria from time to time. Ordinarily, Asiwaju Tinubu wouldn’t have responded to the unfounded rumour being peddled about his health, but due to the torrents of calls from friends, family, sympathisers, followers, political and business associates, and the undue anxiety being generated – this clarification becomes necessary.”

Let’s wait and see for how long they can continue to deceive the public, for, as the legendary Bob Marley once sang, “You can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all the people all the time.”

•Adewole, a Public Affairs Analyst, writes from Abuja. Photo shows Asiwaju Tinubu, whose health s believed to have dipped.

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