President Jonathan falls ill in London … unable to attend investors’ council’s meeting

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.