I was sneaked out of Nigeria for surgery during campaigns –Patience Jonathan

Firstclass newsline learnt that the Wife of the President, Patience
Jonathan, on Sunday disclosed that she battled with another round of
ill-health during the re-election campaigns of her husband,
President Goodluck Jonathan.
Mrs Jonathan, who was flown abroad about two years ago on health
grounds, said the latest was so severe that she had to be sneaked
out of the country to Germany in January for a major surgery.
She spoke during a farewell service in honour of the Jonathan family
at the Aso Villa Chapel.
The President's wife said before she left the German hospital after
the operation, she was billed for another in a bigger hospital
immediately after the elections but that God miraculously healed her.
She said after her husband lost his re-election bid, she returned to
Germany for the surgery.
According to her, she was about to be taken into the theatre when
doctors decided to carry out another round of checks on her.
Like her previous health challenge about two years ago, Mrs.
Jonathan did not disclose the nature of the last ailment.
She said, "During the last campaign period, the devil struck
again. I was in pain and was rushed to the hospital in January and the
doctors told me, 'mama, you have to go for a major operation now now.'
"What again? I asked. The campaign was still going on and I wondered
how we were going to explain to Nigerians.
"You know that even when you go for medical check-up, they will be
writing in newspapers, saying all sorts of things.
"I said my husband will continue with his campaign until the last day.
That was how I went in for the first major operation (surgery) in the
end of January.
"By God's grace, I went for the operation (surgery) and came out. On
my return from there, I went straight to the campaign ground.
"They said to me when I was leaving the hospital: 'mama, there is
another bigger operation that you have to go in for again. This one
will not be in this hospital. This hospital is too small for the type
of operation you need when you come back. You have to go to a bigger
hospital.'
"I said 'ha! while will you tear my body again after I had done 12
operations within one month last year?
"I said my God will see me through because he created me for a
purpose. I told my prayer partner to continue praying for me. I said
to myself that I will never be used for a sacrifice.
"I was booked for the operation in a bigger hospital and I was asked
to go back to Nigeria and return after the campaign. They gave me a
date. When I went back, I paid for everything and just when I was to
be taken into the theatre, the doctors said, 'let's check her
again.'
"By then, my husband had lost the election. I had packed out of the
Villa. Behold! I went to four hospitals again and the thing was said
to have vanished. My doctors were surprised; they didn't believe that
that could happen."
Mrs. Jonathan recalled that many people thought it had ended for her
when she went through 12 surgeries about two years ago.
She said although she was "dead," God sent her back to complete her work.
But the President's wife added that her husband's electoral loss was
an indication to her that she had completed the work given her by God.
She said, "I thank God for keeping me alive today. God is so
wonderful. Just two years ago, I went through operations upon
operations. Within one month, I passed through 12 operations.
"Some people said I was dead, yes, I was dead but God resurrected me.
"God told me, 'my daughter, go back, I will give you a second chance,
go and finish your work.'
"And since my husband lost the election, I believe God has made me to
finish the work."
Mrs. Jonathan said she would forever remain thankful to God because
many people had prophesied that either her or the President would not
leave the Presidential Villa alive.
She recalled that that was what happened in the case of Mrs. Stella
Obasanjo, wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who died while
her husband was still in office.
She said it was gladdening that she and her husband would be leaving
the Villa on May 29 hale and hearty.
Mrs. Jonathan said she would continue to thank God for His mercies
because she never dreamt of becoming a wife of a deputy governor much
less of a President's wife.
She said, "I never thought in my life that I will be First Lady. I
never dreamt of being the wife of a deputy governor because my husband
was not a politician. But God made it possible and God lifted us up
from deputy governorship position and here we are.
"We should be grateful to God for what he has done. To me and my
family, we praise God.
"To our followers, today, it might not be too good but I want them to
be grateful to God because they have followed us for a long time from
deputy governor, governor, Vice President to President.
"You know that no position is for a life- time. There is no permanent
thing so I want you to take it in good faith that it is the will of
God. You should be praising God. God is really wonderful."
Mrs. Jonathan disclosed that some unnamed persons had been visiting
her since the March 28 presidential election with the hope that they
would meet her in a mourning mood.
Thereafter, Mrs. Jonathan danced forward for a special thanksgiving to
God for sparing her life throughout their stay in the Villa despite
her sickness.
Firstclassnewsline.net