Presidency breaks silence on Patience Jonathan

Presidency on Monday broke its silence on the latest foreign trip of wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, insisting that she is only attending to the health of her mother, Mama Sisi, who is currently receiving medical attention in Germany.

According to a statement by her Special Assistant (Media), Ayo Osinlu, the President’s wife is also using the opportunity of the foreign trip to spend quality time with her holidaying children before they return to school.

Osinlu however admitted that Mrs. Jonathan has a history of visiting the unnamed German hospital even before she became the First Lady, thus making her medical trips routine.

He therefore advised that hospital visitations of Nigerian leaders should not become leading media issues thereby attracting disrespective comments.

He disclosed that Mrs. Jonathan is expected back in the country next week.

The statement read, “Our attention has been attracted by some curiosity in a cross section of the public and particularly the media, about the movement of Her Excellency, the First Lady, Dame (Dr) Patience Goodluck Jonathan.

“For the avoidance of doubts and ambiguities, we wish to state that the First Lady travelled to Dubai, after which she proceeded to Paris, France, to participate in the 1^st Green Women Conference, which took place in Paris on March 17, 2013 where she received the 2013 Global Women Leaders’ Award for Peace.

“She thereafter proceeded to Italy from where she went to Germany to see her mother, Mama Sisi, who is currently receiving medical attention.

“The First Lady is spending sometime overseeing the management of her mother’s condition.

“She is also using the opportunity to spend quality time with her holidaying children before they return to school, as they are with her to see their grandmother.

“It is unfortunate that again, some media houses have allowed themselves to be used by dedicated mischief makers against the basic tenet of professional journalism, which regards truth as sacred.  

“It is notable that Her Excellency has a history of visiting the hospital in Germany even before she became the First Lady, thus making her medical trips routine.

“It is also instructive to state that medical experts have recommended that every human being should undergo medical check up every six months, even if not suffering ill health.

“Therefore,  hospital visitations of our leaders should not become leading media issues or attract disrespectful comments”.