Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is tasting the bitter pill of political detention by the Tinubu Administration. Though his arrest has been linked to “unauthorized award of contracts and spending without approval,” one can say without mincing words that Usman is on a political trial due to his persistent criticism of the harsh economic policies of the Nigerian government and vociferous call on northern youth to vote Tinubu out of power come 2027. The Professor of Haematology turned social critic and advocate of the poor, made the call recently in Bauchi where he was invited to deliver a speech. He recounted his experience after returning to Nigeria to take up the job of reforming the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and purge it of CORRUPTION. Instead, corruption fought back and Usman became the casualty as he was eventualy removed after a fierce battle with some forces within and outside the NHIS. Even his benefactor, the former Chief of Staff to President Buhari, late Abba Kyari, who coopted him into the Buhari government, could not rescue him. Since then, Prof Yusuf has turned into a vocal critic of the Nigerian government, which dates back to the Buhari era. He passed a harsh vedict on the Buhari’s eighty year regime for its failure to address insecurity and improve the economy. He is extending the same verdict to the Tinubu aimistration for its harsh economic policies and anti-North sentiments. It’s Usman’ response to the latter that landed him into the EFCC net two days ago. He told a gathering of youth in Bauchi to use their votes to remove bad leaders come 2027 instead of lamentation. “Out of the 8million votes that Tinubu got, the North gave him 5 million. So the North is to blame for its condition,” Usman emphasized.
The question is, why did it take EFCC almost two years to charge Prof. Yusuf to court? Why this time? The accusations against former ES of NHIS are not new. The then Board of NHIS has made the same allegations when Prof Yusu refused to honor request from its members to sponsor their foreign trips. Why is it resurfacing almost four years after Usman was removed on the recommendation of an investigation panel? Is it out of genuine patriotism or an act of blackmail by the Tinubu kitchen cabinet to tarnish Usman’s image and dampen his fighting spirit? Only time will tell.