Perturbed by the continued absence of the First Lady,
Dame Patience Jonathan, from the country as a result of ill-heath, the
Presidency has resorted to prayers to quicken her recovery and return to the
country.
Dame Jonathan, a serving Permanent Secretary in
Bayelsa, her home state, was reportedly flown to a German specialist hospital
two weeks ago for an undisclosed medical treatment.
But the Presidency has kept mum over her health
condition and whereabouts.
When the media broke the sudden disappearance of Mrs.
Jonathan from the country, the Presidency was forced to admit that ‘she went to
take a rest’ but neither disclosed the country where she was observing the rest
nor when she was expected back at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
While a section of the media speculated that she went
for an operation, others claimed she was admitted for food poisoning treatment.
It was learnt yesterday that the condition of Dame
Jonathan, who was reported to be recuperating and expected back in the country
since last week, was still causing some concerns to her husband, President
Goodluck Jonathan, and her handlers.
It was gathered that the Presidency had asked close
associates and friends of the First Lady to continue to render unceasing
intercessory prayers for the woman to recover from her ailment.
A source close to the Presidency confirmed that the
daily morning devotion, which Jonathan and her wife usually attend at the
Villa, is being used to offer special prayers for the First Lady.
The source said, “The President, as you know, is a very
devoted person who has been praying for the wife and those of us who are close
to them do not stop to pray for her as well.
“Yesterday (Friday), a special prayer session was
conducted for her and we know that God Almighty has already healed her of
whatever is afflicting her and that she will soon join us as she used to do
every morning.”
There were speculations, last night, that the woman
would soon be back in the country but none of the presidential spokespersons
was willing to talk on the issue.