Jonathan’s illness not caused by hang-over, says Abati

President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent illness in London was not caused by any birthday hangover, his Chief Spokesman, Dr.Reuben Abati, said yesterday.
Abati who explained that his principal is now fit and due back home today debunked a social media report that the illness was triggered by a “heavy birthday party thrown to celebrate the President’s 56th birthday at his Presidential Suite in the InterContinental Hotel in London.”
He denounced the report as “fictional nonsense” and declared that “there was definitely no party in London to celebrate President Jonathan’s birthday on Wednesday night.”
The president was in London to attend the Honorary International Investors’ Council (HIIC). However, he fell ill and could not attend the Thursday session of the meeting.
Abati said the president was treated for abdominal pains and the doctor who attended to him has certified him fully fit to return home and continue his official duties.”

“After a thorough evaluation of the President’s symptoms, medically referred to as acute abdomen, the doctors concluded that no surgical intervention was required.
“President Jonathan will therefore return to Abuja tomorrow evening (today)and will be at work in the Presidential Villa as usual on Monday.”
He expressed the president’s appreciation to all Nigerians for “their sympathy, support and prayers for his quick recovery following the announcement of his indisposition.”
But he had harsh words for those who suggested that the illness was caused by a birthday hangover.
He said the report was “utterly irresponsible, deplorable, highly unprofessional and unethical antics.”
According to him, it is “very regrettable indeed that after, in compliance with President Jonathan’s standing instruction that Nigerians must never be kept in the dark about the state of his health, the public was duly informed that the president had received precautionary medical attention for an unexpected indisposition in London, some other reckless, lawless, impudent and unpatriotic internet-based media chose to assault the sensibilities of all decent Nigerians again with their entirely fictional, malicious, hate-driven and scurrilous distortion of the facts of the president’s indisposition.
“The truth is that President Jonathan observed his 56th birthday quietly. For part of the day, he was airborne, in transit between Abuja and London. On arrival in London, he spent the rest of the day in the privacy of his hotel room. It has never been his custom to celebrate his birthday and no exception was made this year.