Thanks, but no thanks: President Jonathan prevents PDP governors from visiting the First Lady

Thanks, but no thanks: President Jonathan
prevents PDP governors from visiting the
First Lady
by Stanley Azuakola
In times of illness, a little goodwill goes a long
way. That must have been the reasoning of
some state governors who were in Germany
recently and thought they could visit Nigeria’s
first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, currently
hospitalised in that country. However, her
husband and Nigeria’s president, Goodluck
Jonathan seemed to be of the opinion that their
goodwill isn’t what she needs now.
Consequently, the president gave strict
instructions to the Nigerian ambassador to
Germany, Abdul Abubakar, to ensure that the
delegation of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, had
no access to the First Lady.
Their main reason for visiting Germany was to
“deepen their knowledge of federalism and
attract investors to their respective states.”
While they were there however, according to a
source familiar with the matter, they received
news of the first lady’s hospitalisation. The
governors reached the ambassador wanting to
know how they could visit the First Lady in the
hospital but were constantly evaded.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum delegation was
led by the chairman of the forum, Rotimi
Amaechi (Rivers); Sullivan Chime (Enugu);
Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Jonah Jang (Plateau);
Kashim Shettima (Borno) and Ibrahim Shema
(Katsina).
The Premium Times which reported on the
incident, quoted a source who said, “The
governors, though in Germany for a different
reason, had hoped to extend the African
courtesy and hospitality to the first lady when
they received the cold treatment from the
ambassador.”
Another diplomatic source said Ambassador
Abubakar’s refusal to grant access to the
governors was based on an instruction from the
president that the condition of his wife be kept
entirely “private and secret.”
“The ambassador and other officials at the
Nigerian embassy in Germany made sure they
kept Mrs Jonathan’s whereabouts and condition
secret,” the source said.
“The governors became frustrated and stopped
trying.”
The first lady, according to sources, is being
treated for “ruptured appendicitis” in Germany.