How I ‘died’ and came back, by Patience Jonathan

Dame Patience Jonathan, finally owned up Sunday on her health situation while she was in Germany for medical treatment, telling worshippers at the Aso Rock Chapel, Presidential Villa, Abuja, that she actually died but “God woke me up after seven days.”

The President’s wife confirmed that she went through about nine operations within one month, adding that even some of her aides gave her up for dead.

Some of the aides, she lamented, not only leaked the rumour of her death, but also sold off some of her personal items.

Mrs. Jonathan, who did not speak on the details of the illness, explained that “it was not an easy experience for me. I actually died. I passed out for more than a week. My intestine and tummy were opened. I am not Lazarus. But my experience was similar to his. My doctors said all hope was lost. It was God himself in His infinite mercy that said I would return to Nigeria. God woke me up after seven days.

“I remember when Chief (Olusegun) Obasanjo was the President of the country. I was close to his late wife, Stella. We worshipped together in this (Aso Rock) chapel. It was a painful moment for me that time when she died and her body was brought here. That was how my body would have been brought here.

“I know that some people somehow rumoured that I was dead. They are people that I trust and rely on. To them, I was dead and I would never return to the country alive. Some of them even sold my things off. I won’t say everything here. It is the Lord’s doing that I returned alive. When God says yes, nobody can say no.

“People are always afraid of operation (surgery) but in my own case, while my travail lasted, I was begging for it (surgery) after the third operation because I was going to the theatre everyday. It was God who saw me through. I did eight or nine operations within one month. It was not an easy one.

“The day I came back, I said God I have nothing to say. I offer myself to you. I will be doing things that will touch the lives of the less-privileged. God gave me second chance because I reached there. He knew I have not completed the assignments He gave me, that was why I was sent back.”

President Goodluck Jonathan said that the recovery of his wife from the undisclosed “life-threatening illness” would put an end to the mystery of death of a leader or spouse at the seat of power in Aso Rock.

Jonathan, who spoke at the thanksgiving and praise reception for the recovery of his wife at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, expressed regret that insinuation of mystery of death at the Villa was rife during his wife’s illness.

The President expressed gratitude to God for the life of Patience, stating that “if anything had happened, there would have been different stories from false prophets and many other things would have followed. We all know we will all die but the best time to die is not when you are serving your nation. The story was that one of us will die (President or First Lady), but today, we are celebrating her. Her recovery has put an end to that belief. I am not too good at celebrations. But I think we have to thank God for keeping the life of my wife”.

Jonathan used the opportunity to caution against words and actions of Nigerians, which tend to divide the country. “If you love this country, you will not talk about divisions. Even the little (crude) oil we have is not enough to cause division among us. This will be a particularly good year for Nigeria. With what the Super Eagles have started, I believe things will start turning around for our good.”

Source:Guardian