President
Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday became indisposed in far away London
where he was scheduled to preside over the meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary
International Investors’ Council.
His Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, made this known in a statement he made
available to journalists in Abuja.
Abati said the President, who turned 56 on Wednesday, had since been examined by competent medical practitioners.
He added that Jonathan was advised by his doctors to rest for a few days.
Abati neither disclosed the nature of
the ailment nor the duration of the resting period. He assured
Nigerians that Jonathan’s medical condition was “nothing serious,”
adding that the medical attention he sought was only “precautionary.”
His statement reads, “In the course of
his ongoing visit to London for a meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary
International Investors’ Council, President Goodluck Jonathan became
indisposed and could not be present at the opening of the meeting today
(on Thursday).
“President Jonathan has since been examined by competent medical practitioners. He has been advised to rest for a few days.
“The Presidency wishes to assure all
Nigerians that President Jonathan’s condition is nothing serious and
that the medical attention he has sought is only precautionary.”
Jonathan who was born on November 20,
1957 in Otuoke, the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State clocked
56 while in London.
In his absence, Vice-President Namadi
Sambo led other members of the Federal Executive Council to mark his
birthday in a brief ceremony during which they wished him long life.
Jonathan became the President after the death of late President Umaru Yar’Adua whose Presidency was affected by ill-health.
It will be recalled that the President’s wife, Patience, also fell ill in August last year and spent about seven weeks abroad.
Although her media aides had claimed she
was resting abroad after the rigours of hosting the African First
Ladies Summit, she was actually admitted at a German hospital during the
period.
At a special thanksgiving held in her
honour on February 17, 2013, Patience had confirmed that she passed
on for more than a week before God miraculously raised her from the
dead.
She said her situation was hopeless to
the extent that some people close to her who were convinced that she
would never return to the country alive had started selling off her
personal effects.
She recalled how her tummy was opened and her intestine out for days.
Describing herself as the Biblical
Lazarus who Jesus Christ raised from the dead, Patience said it was God
himself who sent her back to the earth because she had some
unfulfilled tasks to carry out.
Although she did not disclose the nature of her ailment, she said she underwent about nine surgeries within a month.
The President, at the event, had said
the miraculous recovery of his wife succeeded in putting an end to the
superstitious belief that no President enters the Presidential Villa and
leaves with his family intact.
He had said, “The story was that one of us (the President or his wife) will die. Today, we are celebrating her.
“Her recovery has put an end to that
belief. I am not too good in celebrating, but for this particular one, I
think we have to thank God for keeping the life of my wife.
“If anything had happened, there would have been different stories. Fake prophets would have given their stories.
“As mortals, we must fall sick and die but how and when are what matter most.
“To die when serving your people is not good. Death should come after you have finished serving.”
The President had recalled that when he was still a deputy governor in Bayelsa State, he lost a second cousin.
He said during the burial, a story was
told of how anybody in his community, who is gradually going into
limelight always died mysteriously.
Jonathan had said all eyes were focused on him, apparently insinuating that it was his time to die.
He had said he prayed hard that he would not die young and God had answered him.
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