Atiku reported to have travelled to Dubai for medical treatment on troublesome knee

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is in Dubai apparently to receive treatment on a sore knee that has been nagging him for a while according to political sources close to the former vice president.

Earlier this month, the former vice president clinched the PDP presidential ticket at its congress in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, beating 11 other contestants. In a rather easy victory for Alhaji Abubakar, he scored more votes than his main two rivals Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Bukola Saraki combined and has since been building up political momentum.

With the wind in his sails as he continues to get endorsements from political gladiators across the country, Alhaji Abubakar picked former Anambra State governor Peter Obi as his running mate.  However, since making that decision, he has flown out of the country to Dubai and it is reported that he went there for medical treatment on a knee.

Acknowledging that he is in Dubai, Alhaji Abubakar tweeted a message yesterday, showing himself arriving in the country amidst a lot of fanfare at a reception. He tweeted: "Just arrived Dubai for business meetings and my children put up a heart-warming surprise."

This is not the first time Alhaji Abubakar has gone for medical treatment in Dubai as in December 2015, he spent time in the country undergoing treatment. It is not clear how serious the nature of the treatment is though and so far, the PDP has not issued any official statement on the matter.

In February next year, Alhaji Abubakar will face President Muhammadu Buhari in a presidential two-horse race that is looking tight. Since assuming office in 2015, President Buhari has been abroad for treatment several times and in once instance spent 105 days in London.

Known as health tourism, Nigeria is said to be spending $1bn a year on the practise of politicians and public officials going abroad for medical treatment. To prove that the practise is unnecessary, former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo underwent a health check in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital earlier this year.