Nigeria’s First Lady,
Patience Jonathan, is battling an onset of Parkinson’s disease that has
complicated her recovery from a surgical procedure in Germany, several reliable
sources have disclosed to SaharaReporters.
Patience Jonathan, is battling an onset of Parkinson’s disease that has
complicated her recovery from a surgical procedure in Germany, several reliable
sources have disclosed to SaharaReporters.
SaharaReporters broke the
news that Mrs. Jonathan was flown to a hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany close to
a month ago to undergo emergency treatment after a botched procedure in Dubai.
news that Mrs. Jonathan was flown to a hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany close to
a month ago to undergo emergency treatment after a botched procedure in Dubai.
In interviews with three
sources familiar with Mrs. Jonathan’s health status, SaharaReporters learnt
that the Nigerian president’s wife is beset by Parkinson’s disease, a
degenerative syndrome. The disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous
system. A medical source described it as “a fairly common disorder that
occasions degeneration of the nervous system.” The source added that the
disease leads to “progressive impairment and disorder of movement.” An online
medical site notes that Parkinson’s “is characterized by progressive loss of
muscle control, which leads to trembling of the limbs and head while at rest,
stiffness, slowness, and impaired balance. As symptoms worsen, it may become
difficult to walk, talk, and complete simple tasks.”
The bombshell revelation
about the First Lady’s medical woes was first made by a source familiar with
Mrs. Jonathan’s previous secret treatments in Spain and Italy. The source
disclosed that Mrs. Jonathan had battled Parkinson’s for some years now. In
addition, doctors had advised her to “do something urgent about her morbid body
mass index (BMI),” said the source. She added that Mrs. Jonathan had indeed
considered undergoing the kind of tummy tuck procedure that former Governor
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha once had.
about the First Lady’s medical woes was first made by a source familiar with
Mrs. Jonathan’s previous secret treatments in Spain and Italy. The source
disclosed that Mrs. Jonathan had battled Parkinson’s for some years now. In
addition, doctors had advised her to “do something urgent about her morbid body
mass index (BMI),” said the source. She added that Mrs. Jonathan had indeed
considered undergoing the kind of tummy tuck procedure that former Governor
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha once had.
Two other sources close to
the Jonathans confirmed that the First Lady has been dogged by Parkinson’s. One
said the disease was largely responsible for her clumsiness, drawling speech
and slow movement at public events. He added that Mrs. Jonathan has been
suffering serious trembling in the left hand. “That’s why she always uses her
right to hold the microphone when speaking at public events,” the source
revealed. Mrs. Jonathan also reportedly is affected by stiffness of the limbs
and trunk which affects her movement.
the Jonathans confirmed that the First Lady has been dogged by Parkinson’s. One
said the disease was largely responsible for her clumsiness, drawling speech
and slow movement at public events. He added that Mrs. Jonathan has been
suffering serious trembling in the left hand. “That’s why she always uses her
right to hold the microphone when speaking at public events,” the source
revealed. Mrs. Jonathan also reportedly is affected by stiffness of the limbs
and trunk which affects her movement.
A news staffer at the
Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) told SaharaReporters that Mrs. Jonathan’s
aides warned reporters covering her never to film her beyond her waist. “Her
senior personal assistant told the crew covering her long ago: ‘Don’t ever film
Madam’s waist. Show her face only.’ That’s been the code at NTA.”
Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) told SaharaReporters that Mrs. Jonathan’s
aides warned reporters covering her never to film her beyond her waist. “Her
senior personal assistant told the crew covering her long ago: ‘Don’t ever film
Madam’s waist. Show her face only.’ That’s been the code at NTA.”
Two of our sources stated
that Mrs. Jonathan had made efforts to slow the disease that had started to
ravage her. “She has been visiting a health farm in Italy on a regular basis
since 2010,” one source revealed. “To alleviate her pain, she has been taking
her medication religiously.”
that Mrs. Jonathan had made efforts to slow the disease that had started to
ravage her. “She has been visiting a health farm in Italy on a regular basis
since 2010,” one source revealed. “To alleviate her pain, she has been taking
her medication religiously.”
A friend of Mrs. Jonathan’s
said that the First Lady’s health maladies include anxiety, occasional memory
loss and disorientation. In addition, her blood pressure often rises to
dangerous levels, forcing her to take a cocktail of anti-hypertensive drugs.
said that the First Lady’s health maladies include anxiety, occasional memory
loss and disorientation. In addition, her blood pressure often rises to
dangerous levels, forcing her to take a cocktail of anti-hypertensive drugs.
Also, our sources said that
some officials attached to the First Lady’s office described her as constantly
depressed, prone to snapping at people at the slightest provocation. “The First
Lady can just get angry at the slightest provocation and rain abuses at anybody
in sight,” he said.
some officials attached to the First Lady’s office described her as constantly
depressed, prone to snapping at people at the slightest provocation. “The First
Lady can just get angry at the slightest provocation and rain abuses at anybody
in sight,” he said.
As happened during the health
crisis of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the Nigerian Presidency’s
reaction to Mrs. Jonathan’s health condition is to be mum. When SaharaReporters
contacted a senior aide of President Jonathan on the matter of the First Lady’s
illness, he sharply said, “I’m not saying anything. And please don’t mention
that you spoke to me.” SaharaReporters learnt that officials of the Presidency
are under a virtual oath of secrecy on the issue of Mrs. Jonathan’s health
crisis.
crisis of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the Nigerian Presidency’s
reaction to Mrs. Jonathan’s health condition is to be mum. When SaharaReporters
contacted a senior aide of President Jonathan on the matter of the First Lady’s
illness, he sharply said, “I’m not saying anything. And please don’t mention
that you spoke to me.” SaharaReporters learnt that officials of the Presidency
are under a virtual oath of secrecy on the issue of Mrs. Jonathan’s health
crisis.
.
By SaharaReporters
