battling an onset of Parkinson's disease
that has complicated her recovery from a
surgical procedure in Germany, several
reliable sources have disclosed to
SaharaReporters.
SaharaReporters broke the news that Mrs.
Jonathan was flown to a hospital in
Wiesbaden, Germany close to a month ago
to undergo emergency treatment after a
botched procedure in Dubai.
In interviews with three sources familiar with
Mrs. Jonathan's health status, SaharaReporters
learnt that the Nigerian president's wife is
beset by Parkinson's disease, a degenerative
syndrome. The disease is a progressive disorder
of the nervous system. A medical source
described it as "a fairly common disorder that
occasions degeneration of the nervous system."
The source added that the disease leads to
"progressive impairment and disorder of
movement." An online medical site notes that
Parkinson's "is characterized by progressive
loss of muscle control, which leads to trembling
of the limbs and head while at rest, stiffness,
slowness, and impaired balance. As symptoms
worsen, it may become difficult to walk, talk,
and complete simple tasks."
The bombshell revelation about the First Lady's
medical woes was first made by a source
familiar with Mrs. Jonathan's previous secret
treatments in Spain and Italy. The source
disclosed that Mrs. Jonathan had battled
Parkinson's for some years now. In addition,
doctors had advised her to "do something
urgent about her morbid body mass index
(BMI)," said the source. She added that Mrs.
Jonathan had indeed considered undergoing the
kind of tummy tuck procedure that former
Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha once had.
Two other sources close to the Jonathans
confirmed that the First Lady has been dogged
by Parkinson's. One said the disease was
largely responsible for her clumsiness, drawling
speech and slow movement at public events. He
added that Mrs. Jonathan has been suffering
serious trembling in the left hand. "That's why
she always uses her right to hold the
microphone when speaking at public events,"
the source revealed. Mrs. Jonathan also
reportedly is affected by stiffness of the limbs
and trunk which affects her movement.
A news staffer at the Nigerian Television
Authority (NTA) told SaharaReporters that Mrs.
Jonathan's aides warned reporters covering her
never to film her beyond her waist. "Her senior
personal assistant told the crew covering her
long ago: 'Don't ever film Madam's waist. Show
her face only.' That's been the code at NTA."
Two of our sources stated that Mrs. Jonathan
had made efforts to slow the disease that had
started to ravage her. "She has been visiting a
health farm in Italy on a regular basis since
2010," one source revealed. "To alleviate her
pain, she has been taking her medication
religiously."
A friend of Mrs. Jonathan's said that the First
Lady's health maladies include anxiety,
occasional memory loss and disorientation. In
addition, her blood pressure often rises to
dangerous levels, forcing her to take a cocktail
of anti-hypertensive drugs.
Also, our sources said that some officials
attached to the First Lady's office described her
as constantly depressed, prone to snapping at
people at the slightest provocation. "The First
Lady can just get angry at the slightest
provocation and rain abuses at anybody in
sight," he said.
As happened during the health crisis of the late
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the Nigerian
Presidency's reaction to Mrs. Jonathan's health
condition is to be mum. When SaharaReporters
contacted a senior aide of President Jonathan
on the matter of the First Lady's illness, he
sharply said, "I'm not saying anything. And
please don't mention that you spoke to me."
SaharaReporters learnt that officials of the
Presidency are under a virtual oath of secrecy
on the issue of Mrs. Jonathan's health crisis.
Sahara Reporters
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