Wife of President Goodluck Jonathan,
Dame Patience, returned to the country on Wednesday after spending about seven
weeks abroad.
Mrs. Jonathan arrived at the Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from a foreign country widely believed to
be Germany. She returned in one of the aircraft in the Presidential Fleet
As soon as she alighted from
the aircraft, she denied media reports that she went abroad for cosmetic
surgery. She also denied being an in-patient in a German hospital on account of
a terminal disease, adding that her husband loved her physique.
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 do not have terminal illness, or (went for) any cosmetic surgery,
more or less tummy tuck.
“My husband loves me as I am and I am
pleased with how God created me.”
Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is a
cosmetic surgical procedure that is used to make the abdomen more firm.
Wikipedia says it “involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the middle
and lower abdomen in order to tighten the muscle and fascia of the abdominal
wall.”
Mrs. Jonathan arrived at the Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja a few minutes before 4pm in a
presidential aircraft. She was dressed in a multi-colour boubou with a matching
headgear and appeared to have lost weight. She was received by family members
and friends amidst singing and drumming by women, masqueraders and
cultural groups in different uniforms.
The wife of the President, whose
dressing was devoid of the usual heavy jewellery, said that the prayers of
Nigerians sustained her during what she called her “period of trial”.
She said, “I am happy to be back in
Nigeria. There are a few Nigerians that are saying whatever they like, not what
God planned because God has a plan for all of us.
“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.”
Mrs. Jonathan also dwelt on reports
that linked her rumoured illness to her husband’s position as President.
She said, “At the same time, I will
use this opportunity to address those who are saying that anybody that goes to
the villa or Aso Rock will die.
“They mentioned (Sani) Abacha, they
mentioned Stella Obasanjo, they mentioned (Umaru) Yar’Adua and other people.
But those people, why didn’t they mention those ones that went there with their
families, succeeded and they still came out alive?
“We should remember that Aso Rock is
the seat of power and that is where God has ordained that our leaders should
rule from, and to rule us right.”
She thanked her husband and members
of her family, and expressed love for her fellow citizens.
She said, “I will use this
opportunity to thank my beloved husband, my children, my staff and all
Nigerians for standing by me during my trial time.
“God has given me a second chance, to
come and work with the women of Nigeria, the children and the less privileged.
I have come to serve Nigeria. I have come to work with Nigerians. I am there
for them.”
At the residence of the first couple
inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the atmosphere was no less joyous.
President Jonathan and his mother,
Eunice, led members of his household, staff of Women For Change Initiative, a
pet project of the President’s wife, as well as presidential aides to receive
her.
Except for the President who was
dressed in his usual Niger Delta traditional attire, other members of the
household wore T-shirts bearing different images of Patience.
Messages such as “We love you”, “We
miss you”, “Welcome back” and “May you live long” were inscribed on the shirts.
Immediately the gathering sighted Mrs
Jonathan’s convoy at 5pm, they launched into gospel songs. One ran, “Thank you
God. You have done us good. Thank you God. Lord you have done us good. Thank
you.”
Mrs Jonathan, after a long embrace
with her husband, mother-in-law and children, greeted her aides afresh.
She also joined in the dancing and singing before retiring into her residence
with members of her family, close friends and top government officials.
Her media aide, Ayo Osinlu, who had
earlier claimed that Patience was resting abroad after the rigours of hosting
the recent African First Ladies Summit, told journalists that she would not
grant any interview because she “needed to rest”.
As of press time, well-wishers who
thronged the Presidential Villa to welcome the wife of the President included
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, his wife and almost all female
ministers.
Since she left the country
unannounced in August, the Presidency had kept mum on her state of health and
the nature of her rumoured sickness.
The silence bred wild speculation,
with some reports claiming that Patience travelled abroad to be treated for
food poisoning, while others said she went for cosmetic surgery.