Presidency denies President Jonathan checked into German hospital

According to a report by Sahara Reporters, President Jonathan and First Lady Patience Jonathan, checked into a German hospital on December 4th. The president left Abuja yesterday to attend a summit on Peace and Security in Africa organized by the French Government but Sahara Reporters claim a source in the presidency told them that the president left Nigeria due to health problems..

Contrary to the impression created that the trip was exclusively for the French-sponsored security summit, Mr. Jonathan and his wife will undergo tests and receive treatment in the same German hospital where his wife spent several months last year.

Our source added that the Nigerian president had been feeling unwell since returning from a recent trip to London where he was hospitalized for a serious stomach-related ailment. SaharaReporters had disclosed that the president fell seriously ill after a bout of bingeing on alcohol in celebration of his birthday.

Our source revealed that plans were made for the president to receive medical attention in Germany after Mr. Jonathan suddenly fell ill last weekend in his home-state of Bayelsa during a visit there. The president’s sudden illness almost led to his emergency evacuation to Germany, our Presidency source said. Mrs. Jonathan is also expected to receive follow-up medical treatment in the German hospital.

The Presidency has denied this report, saying it's a complete fabrication. See a statement after the cut..

Saharareporters Story on President Jonathan is a Complete Fabrication.

My attention has been drawn to the story on Saharareporters alleging that the President left Nigeria abruptly due to health challenges sustained as a result of alleged "heavy drinking". This story is another lie that saharareporters has become known for.

The Summit on Peace and Security in Africa which holds in Paris France between Thursday and Friday this week was scheduled months in advance and President Jonathan had confirmed attendance.

How can travel plans to attend a Security summit scheduled in advance with 50 Heads of State be "abrupt"? Did the President also "abruptly" arrange the attendance of the United Nations Secretary General, French President, Francois Hollande and fifty other Heads of State in Paris this week?

As was already indicated in the presidency's press release from two weeks ago, there was no "bout of bingeing on alcohol in celebration of his birthday" or on any other day.

The Nigerian public watched on live television as the President attended the 2nd North-East Economic Summit in Gombe, Gombe state,  on Tuesday the 3rd of December and visited the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Usman Abubakar immediately thereafter before returning to Abuja for travel on the same day. Are these the actions of a man who suffers from "abrupt health challenges"? 

The public will note that Saharareporters' story does not provide any proof beyond referring to an unnamed "source". Again, I reiterate that this story is entirely false and we challenge them to produce even the slightest evidence to buttress their claims. 

Reno Omokri,

Special Assistant to the President (New Media).

Regards,