The Presidency said yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, Patience, had a history of visiting hospitals in Germany even before she became the First Lady. This is contained in a statement issued by her Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Ayo Osinlu. Osinlu urged the media not make an issue out of the heath of the First Lady as her medical trip to Germany was not new.
He, however, explained that Mrs. Jonathan’s latest trip was to attend to her mother who is currently receiving medical attention, saying that it was not true that she was flown abroad for another round of medical treatment. According to him, the First Lady is expected back next week.
Osinlu added that the President’s wife was
using the opportunity to spend quality time with her holidaying children. He said: “For the avoidance of doubt and ambiguities, we wish to state that the First Lady travelled to Dubai, after which she proceeded to Paris, France to participate in the 1st Green Women Conference, which took place in Paris on March 17, 2013 where she received the 2013 Global Women Leaders’ Award for Peace.
“She thereafter proceeded to Italy from where she went to Germany to see her mother, Mama Sisi, who is currently receiving medical attention. The First Lady is spending sometime overseeing the management of her mother’s condition. “She is also using the opportunity to spend quality time with her holidaying children before they return to school, as they are with her to see their grandmother.”
Osinlu said it was not strange if the First Lady had gone for medical trip, noting that medical experts have recommended that every human being should undergo medical check-up every six months, even if not suffering ill health. He said: “It is notable that Her Excellency has a history of visiting the hospital in Germany even before she became the First Lady, thus making her medical trips routine.
“Therefore, hospital visitations of our leaders should not become leading media issues or attract disrespectful comments, just as the current circumstances of former South African President Nelson Mandela and other African leaders in similar situations, and even those who died, have not attracted negative comments from their people,.”
This is the first time the Presidency would issue an official statement regarding report on the health of the First Lady which has caused anxiety since August last year when she was out of the country for medical treatment.
Last year, Mrs. Jonathan was flown to Germany for medical treatment for an undisclosed ailment. She later returned to the country after seven weeks. However, the Presidency then did not issue any official statement on her heath status despite the anxiety the issue generated. Osinlu had said that the President’s wife had not gone for medical treatment in Germany but was only on vacation abroad.
When she returned on October 17, the First Lady also denied being admitted at Horst Schmidt Klinic in Wiesbaden, Germany, saying that she did not have any terminal disease or in the hospital for tummy tuck or cosmetic surgery.
On her arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, she said: “I read in the media where they said I was in the hospital. God Almighty knows I have never been to that hospital. I don’t even know the hospital they mentioned. “I have to explain what God has done for me.
I don’t have any terminal illness. I did not go for cosmetic surgery or tummy tuck. My husband loves me as I am and I am pleased with how God created me.” But after the initial denial, on Sunday, February 17, Mrs. Jonathan opened up on her admission at a German hospital last year, saying that she was actually dead while in the hospital, but God restored her to life.
The disclosure at a thanksgiving service held at the Aso Villa Chapel was contrary to her earlier claim that she did not undergo any surgery or tummy tuck at Horst Schmidt Klinic in Wiesbaden, Germany. The First Lady said her tummy and intestines were actually opened and she underwent multiple surgeries.
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