There have been speculations that Nigerian First
Lady Dame Patience Jonathan went to Germany for a cosmetic surgery, some
websites even went as far as publishing five to six different ailments suffered
by the First Lady. Finally the First Lady is back and she has discredited the speculations
by saying “I didn’t go abroad for plastic surgery.” Continue reading for the full report.
Culled from Punch reports.
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.
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