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."
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.