The disclosure by First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan of the critical nature of her health, Monday, aroused scathing criticisms from opposition political parties and some of the country’s leading civic society groups.
The opposition parties and civil society advocates slammed Federal Government for projecting a government of deceit with several saying the administration officials had presented the government as one that cannot be trusted.
Mrs. Jonathan at a thanksgiving service last Sunday disclosed that she literally rose from the dead as she went through nine surgeries on account of an illness the nature of which she, however, did not disclose.
Her media assistant, Mr. Ayo Osinlu, was repeatedly quoted last August and September as saying that Mrs. Jonathan was abroad on vacation following what he said was her hectic work schedule in August.
“If you look at her itinerary in August, you will be wondering how she was able to accomplish that.
“In the course of this week, she will be back home. But remember, it all depends on her plans,” he had said.
Monday, Osinlu could not be reached on his reaction to the development.
Biting reactions came from the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC
Presidency misleading Nigerians — ACN
In a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the revelation by the First Lady on the extent of her illness, especially the fact that she passed out for seven days was a cause for concern to Nigerians wondering why government chose to lie to them on the issue.
“While we felicitate with the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on her recovery from whatever illness it was that afflicted her, we will be remiss if we fail to recollect how the presidency denied ‘rumours’ of the First Lady’s illness and poured scorn on the media and the imaginary enemies of the government for fuelling the ‘satanic rumours.
“We will also like to remind the presidency that its denial, instead of full disclosure that would have elicited nothing more than fervent prayers from Nigerians, fuelled the rumours that the First Lady suffered from sundry afflictions or the consequences of tummy tuck’’.
“Like we have said time and again, any government needs to be credible to win the trust of the citizens, without which it cannot govern effectively. With the revelation by our back-from-the-dead First Lady, it is clear that the Jonathan Presidency has egg on its face, and must apologise to Nigerians for lying to them. Also, the spokesmen for this government have lost total credibility, hence their words will henceforth be taken with a pinch of salt.
“It is sad that despite what we and many Nigerian groups and individuals have said on this issue, the Jonathan Administration took its script directly from the Yar’Adua group’s book of deceit when the late President was ill and flown abroad. Now, Governors Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Danbaba Suntai of Taraba and Liyel Imoke of Cross River are all playing according to the Jonathan script.
“We are therefore renewing our call for openness and full disclosure on the state of health of public officials. Life itself is transient, not to talk of positions. And as a spiritual leader of the calibre of Pope Benedict has shown recently, no office is more important than life itself.”
This govt has exhibited dishonesty — CPC
The Congress For Progressive Change, CPC, on its part said that if the presidency could lie over the health of the First Lady, it then showed the capacity of the administration to lie on anything.
“What is undoubtedly plausible is: If the administration could show such dishonesty in an innocuous matter as the disclosure of the true state of the first lady’s health, it revealed, without doubt, that this presidency is irredeemably sold to casting deceptive veil on the minds of Nigerians! Indeed, this administration is a continuing story in indulgent opacity and metaphor of a rudder less ship.
“Truly, this is another reason for the total rejection of the ruling PDP that has consistently been responsible for the depreciating quality of leadership in Nigeria’s body politic in the last 13 years. Gratefully, there is hope for a credible alternative to what the ruling People’s Democratic Party represents with the current effort of the progressive parties in the Nation.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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I agree with the opposition 100%
ReplyDeleteI expected more from President Goodluck Jonathern. I believe this episode of falsehood over Mrs Jonatherns health clearly shows that they do not trust us the citizens. We who trusted you with our destinies by voting for you. There should be trust between the president and the citizens, We deserve a sincer apology.
ReplyDeleteI expected more from President Goodluck Jonathern. I believe this episode of falsehood over Mrs Jonatherns health clearly shows that they do not trust us the citizens. We who trusted you with our destinies by voting for you. There should be trust between the president and the citizens, We deserve a sincer apology.
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME NEITHER WILL THIS BE THE LAST TIME THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS RELEASED THE SCARCITY OF TRUTH.AN HOUR AGO SOMEONE CALLED HIMSELF A SPECIAL ADVISER AND THINK HIS TYPE OF BRAIN IS WHAT ALL NIGERIANS ARE HAVING IN THEIR HEADS.I TRAVELLED OVER 700 KM TO VOTE FOR GOODLUCK JONATHAN, BECAUSE HE SAID HE WILL SPEND ONLY ONE TERM IN OFFICE.GOODLUCK TO NIGERIANS
ReplyDeleteplease guys think and then post.this is a family issue.nigerians ddnt vote patience.so why pokenosing in another mans family.and again many are praying for her to die .many wanted to hear her condition and make jest out of it.THIS IS A FAMILY ISSUE ,BUMP ND PLAIN.Even the so called oppositions are not happy she returned alive.GEJ keep your family the way you want
ReplyDeleteACN AND CPC how many times have you exposed your family lifestyle to all nigerians.GEJ must not tell the world about his personal issues.He who is surrounded by enemies always keep his eyes open
ReplyDeleteGEJ no mind dem.dem de pray t hear bad news so as to attribut it to ur administration bt GOD s not a small boy.
ReplyDeleteno be our money she dey spend here and there?
ReplyDeletePres. GEJ it is your faMily and not a political party.Only the immediate members of the fAmily whom love U are allowed to know private things that concern u and not the scheming public lookn for a loop hole to cast you down.see all of them witches
ReplyDeleteI think Lai Mohammed and his cohorts should go and do something better with their lives, if they are jobless. There is simply no point in politicising every event or situation. Disclosure of Patience's ilness or state of health when she was in that trauma in un-african. We should not forget that we are not oyinbos. The african society is wicked and diabolical and so one should be careful. How many people disclose to their neighbours when their wives are in labour? In the same vein, the president has a right of privacy and may chose to withold information about the state of health of his wife, if he so wishes. Period. The opposition groups have missed it this time. stop scoring cheap points
ReplyDelete