by Isi Esene

Following various speculation over the health situation of the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, an online media platform has revealed that she is currently receiving treatment for “ruptured appendicitis”.

News broke a few days ago about Dame Patience’s health status and her whereabouts, it was widely speculated that she had been hurriedly flown out of the country to a medical facility in Germany after suffering from food poisoning.

In view of the gravity of the situation and the importance of disseminating accurate information to the public, observers have found the eerie silence and half-hearted denials emanating from the seat of power quite disturbing.

The spokesman of the first lady, Mr. Ayo Osinlu, has given an explanation for her non-appearance in public saying she was out of the country to take a “moment’s rest”.

He said, “If you look at her itinerary in August, you will be wondering how she was able to accomplish that. In the course of this week she will be back home. But remember, it all depends on her plans,” he concluded.

The facts behind the first lady’s stay abroad is not clear but analysts believe citizens have a right to know her health condition.

According to a government source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Mrs. Jonathan fell sick about 10 days ago, after she hosted a summit of first ladies from across Africa.

This is not the first time the health condition of an important public figure in the country will be shielded from public scrutiny; in 2010, during the Umar Musa Yar’Adua administration, Nigerians were regaled with conflicting stories about the fitness of the president and multiple phantom sightings by aides who apparently had something to benefit from the widespread misinformation.

We do know that a first lady is unelected and doesn’t hold a constitutional office. However, she is beloved by millions who admire her as wife of the number one citizen of our country, and those people deserve to know what the state of her health is.

The waiting game continues.