Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Sister Slams Buhari’s Death Abroad, Calls Out Failed Healthcare Legacy

Dr. Kandibe Ejiofor, sister of acclaimed Hollywood actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, has publicly criticized the late President Muhammadu Buhari for his repeated reliance on foreign medical treatment, following his recent death in a United Kingdom hospital.

Reacting via her Instagram story on Monday, July 14, Dr. Ejiofor expressed deep frustration over Buhari’s decision to consistently seek medical care overseas throughout his presidency. She described it as a damning reflection of his administration’s failure to improve Nigeria’s ailing healthcare system.

“He served as Nigeria’s president for eight years and still died in a UK hospital. What a shame. He couldn’t fix the healthcare system even for his own use. This sends a terrible message,” she wrote.

The UK-based medical doctor and mother of three lamented that successive leaders continue to abandon their own country’s hospitals, reinforcing public distrust in the system they were meant to reform.

“I’m still waiting for a Nigerian president who will build functional institutions and trust them enough to use them,” she added.

President Muhammadu Buhari passed away in London on Sunday, July 13, 2025, after a prolonged illness. His long-standing medical tourism was a point of controversy throughout his administration, drawing widespread criticism from citizens and observers who felt it undermined public confidence in Nigeria’s health infrastructure.

Dr. Ejiofor’s comments have since reignited debate over the urgent need for leadership accountability and reforms in Nigeria’s public health sector.