Picture: Patience Jonathan’s ‘triumphant’ return

Posted by admin First Ladies, General Politics, Latest Politics, Patience Jonathan Wednesday, October 24th, 2012

Patience Jonathan on her arrival home from the foreign medical trip.

It is not always possible not to notice the presence of the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, at any gathering. Even in the Presidential Villa, where she resides with members of her family, Patience’s commanding presence is usually felt. But for about two days, Patience was conspicuously absent in the Villa. Yet, no one knew.

If there were people who knew of it, certainly not one of the over 80 accredited journalists covering the Presidential Villa because her absence was not reported. Perhaps, her sudden disappearance was only known and guarded as a top secret among those close to the seat of power.

The lid on the secret was however blown open by an online medium, which reported that the top civil servant in the Bayelsa State civil service had been taken to a German hospital to treat an undisclosed ailment. There was confusion at the seat of power on how to prevent the information from degenerating into a scandal. Nigerians were agitating and eager to know what the problem was, if any, with regards to the health of the wife of their president.

Would the President, knowing what his countrymen went through when President Umaru Yar’Adua was ill and his state of health was kept secret by his aides, have told Nigerians what happened to his own wife? Or would he also remember how Nigerians fought for him when Yar’Adua’s health matter was also kept away from him even as the then Vice-President and therefore use the opportunity to prove that he would not behave like the family of the late President by issuing a statement on what happened to his wife and why she travelled?

In the midst of this confusion, there were attempts by the Presidency to cause a statement to be issued on the matter. Meetings were held and presidential sources said the President actually agreed that a statement be issued to explain the whereabouts of his wife and when she was expected back in the country. Investigations also revealed that the statement had been prepared, typed and only waiting for final clearance from the President before some hawks waded in and convinced the President not to release it by arguing that ‘after all, Madam was not an official of the government’. That ended the efforts of those who felt nothing should be hidden from the probing public on the health of the President’s wife. Thus, the numerous calls made by Patience’s Assistant on Media, Mr. Ayo Osinlu, to State House correspondents, asking for their email addresses to enable him send the statement on his boss, became an exercise in futility.

That was however the beginning of another round of bellyache by opposition political parties, as they each asked the President to speak out about the whereabouts of his wife. The President’s aides refused to budge, just like their boss. But when the pressure became unbearable, the Presidency became worried about the attitude of Nigerians.

It said that it expected Nigerians to empathise with the First Lady, pray for her and not to be probing into her health problems. This was the response from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, when prodded to speak on the First Lady’s whereabouts. He was asked if the silence from the Presidency on Mrs. Jonathan was not fuelling rumours concerning her health. Okupe, who was very reluctant to speak on the issue, said Nigeria had gone through a lot of trauma in terms of leadership, deaths and ill luck in the past.

He recalled how a former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, died in the office. In hushed tones, he also said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo lost his wife, Stella, in the Presidential Villa. He did not forget to mention how a former President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, also died in office. He, therefore, said that even if it was a suggestion that the President’s wife was actually sick, he expected Nigerians to feel for her.

He said, “Ordinarily, I do not want to comment on this matter. Nigerians have gone through a lot of trauma in terms of leadership and death and ill luck and all that (in the past). (Gen Sani) Abacha died in the Villa, Obasanjo’s wife (Stella) died in the Villa, (President Umaru) Yar’Adua lost his life in the Villa. I think even if it is a suggestion that the wife of the President is sick, what I will expect Nigerians to feel is empathy, not probing, not questioning (about her health). Have we become so disenchanted with leadership as to believe that the leadership are inhuman?”

Okupe must have been miffed with those speculating that the wife of his boss had several ailments, which included cancer. They also guessed that she might have travelled for cosmetic surgery or tummy tuck.

However, unlike her unceremonious exit from the country, it was with joy that Patience returned to the country on Wednesday last week. There had been several rumours that she was returning before then, which never came to pass. But when a presidential jet again flew out of the country a day earlier, reporters’ instinct told them that it had gone to Germany to bring Patience.

Very early that morning, a large crowd of friends, supporters and well-wishers not to forget hirelings, were at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to receive her. The scorching sun did not debar them from waiting for the woman, which, it appeared, they love with passion. Women, dressed in colourful attires, majority in uniform, danced to the beats of local drummers with ecstasy. Some of the women even wore T-shirts with the picture of the First Lady while others carried banners with various inscriptions welcoming the woman they described as the “mother of the nation.”

But the joy was almost marred when a presidential plane arrived the airport at 3.20 pm. The crowd surged forward. But alas, it did not come with Patience. Some hissed, just as the drummers ceased from playing their drums. But soon about 10 minutes later, another plane came.

It was a Nigerian Air Force plane with registration number 5N FGW. It landed at exactly 3.45pm, with the First Lady. As soon as it taxied to the Presidential wing, the now agitated market women, politicians, dignitaries and cultural troupes began to jubilate, even when they were yet to set their eyes on their ‘mother.’ But as soon as she saw the crowd, Patience raised her hands and waved.

Though the First Lady denied being sick, she appeared emaciated and pale. She, however, unconsciously gave a hint that she was actually ill by thanking God Almighty for giving her a second chance to serve Nigerians, particularly women, children and the less privileged. She condemned those who insinuated that she was going to die like Abacha, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo and President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

She said, “I thank God Almighty for bringing me back safely to Nigeria. Wherever there are good people, there are also bad ones. There are a few Nigerians that are saying whatever they like, not what God planned because God has a plan for all of us.

“And God has said it all that when two or three are gathered in His name, He will be with them. Nigerians gathered and prayed for me and God listened and heard their prayers, so, I thank God for that. At the same time, I will use this opportunity to advise those few ones that are saying that anybody that goes to Villa or Aso Rock will die.

“They mentioned Abacha, they mentioned Stella Obasanjo, they mentioned Yar’Adua. But why didn’t they mention those who were there with their families, succeeded and came out alive? We should remember that Aso Rock is the seat of power and that is where God has ordained for Nigerians that our leaders should rule from and to rule us right. God is wonderful. At the same time, 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.”

At this juncture, her aides, who some people saw as being overzealous, tried to stop her from going ahead with further statements. The First Lady refused. She went on, saying, “I have to explain what God has done for me. I do not have terminal illness, neither did I do any cosmetic surgery, let alone tummy tuck. My husband loves me as I am and I am pleased with how God created me. I cannot add anything.”

The elated First Lady used the opportunity to thank her husband and her children and all Nigerians for standing by her during her trying period.

It was with cheerfulness that she returned to her husband at the Villa, who embraced her and held her tightly. His mother, Eunice and children watched with admiration as both husband and wife, who had been apart for close to two months, were again reunited.

-Punchwp_posts

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Posted by admin on Oct 24 2012. Filed under First Ladies, General Politics, Latest Politics, Patience Jonathan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry