“I want my wife’s condition be kept private” – Jonathan bars governors from seeing First Lady

Cracks have emerged in the camp of ailing first Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, as Mr. President gave a strict instruction to the German hospital that a delegation of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), which recently visited Germany where the First Lady being hospitalized should have no access to First Lady.

A highly reliable source confirmed the governors are not happy that they could not have access or know the current health status of the First Lady whose offices as the First Lady and a Permanent Secretary to the Bayelsa state government remain empty since her departure.

The delegation, led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi, included Governors Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Jonah Jang of Plateau, Kashim Shettima of Borno and Ibrahim Shema of Katsina States.

The source 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 reliable source said Ambassador Abubakar following Jonathan’s instruction barred the governors from seeing the First Lady, insisting that his wife’s condition 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 source

Spokesperson to the president, Reuben Abati and his Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe declined comment on the issue.

The alleged “food poisoning” that landed Dame Patience Jonathan in a German hospital has continued to generate ripples in the country as several Nigerians and informed commentators continued to condemn President Goodluck Jonathan and his advisers, for not deeming it fit to inform Nigerians on the true state of his wife’s health.

The absence of official statements from the president’s office has given room to speculations, rumours and innuendoes, thus making Mr. President more vulnerable to attacks.