NIGERIA’s First Lady Patience Jonathan finally returned home to Nigeria after about seven weeks of treatment
in a German hospital. Mrs. Jonathan’s plane arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 4.00p.m local time Wednesday.
Prior to Mrs. Jonathan’s arrival, all access roads to the airport were temporarily closed to vehicular movement. Vehicles were only allowed to enter and leave the airport after Mrs. Jonathan’s convoy had departed the airport.
Vehicles coming into the airport were allowed 10 minutes after the first lady’s convoy left, while those leaving the airport were made to wait longer until about 20 minutes after the convoy left the airport.
Hundreds of female members of the Peoples Democratic Party had arrived the airport, some four hours before Ms. Jonathan’s arrival to welcome the first lady. Several other officials of the party were also present.
The well-wishers arrived in about 20 luxury buses which were parked at the presidential exit of the airport. The buses belonged to the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company and ABC transport, with many having banners to welcome the first lady.
Many of the women who had trooped out to welcome Mrs. Jonathan were disappointed when they realized they would not see her at the airport.
Mrs. Jonathan was eased into the official vehicle from the plane. She neither waved, acknowledged, nor addressed the hundreds of well-wishers waiting for her. No reason has been given for the first lady’s inability to meet with her well-wishers.
The welcome party included a large contingent from Rivers State, Mrs. Jonathan’s home state. Some of the women were seen grumbling quietly about their disappointment at the first lady’s action.
The presidency did not admit that the first lady was ill. The only statement from the presidency on the first lady’s presence in a German hospital was that she had gone to rest from a busy schedule.
Several news reports however emerged that Mrs. Jonathan was flown to Germany for a serious ailment. Several ailments were mentioned including food poisoning, while a source at the villa said the first lady was diagnosed with ruptured appendicitis.
- Courtesy: Premium Times