Wife of the President, Mrs. Patience
Jonathan, was at her best again on Sunday. The venue was the Aso Villa
Chapel where she joined her husband, our outgoing President, for a
special thanksgiving and farewell service organised in their honour.
Jonathan, was at her best again on Sunday. The venue was the Aso Villa
Chapel where she joined her husband, our outgoing President, for a
special thanksgiving and farewell service organised in their honour.
As usual, President Jonathan arrived the
chapel a bit earlier than his wife. He was already seated, engrossed in
the Sunday School, a Bible study session that always precedes the Sunday
service proper before his wife arrived. The President’s Chaplain, Ven.
Obioma Onwuzurumba, was the one conducting the session. He threw a
question at the congregation and his wife, Martha, stood up to offer an
answer.
chapel a bit earlier than his wife. He was already seated, engrossed in
the Sunday School, a Bible study session that always precedes the Sunday
service proper before his wife arrived. The President’s Chaplain, Ven.
Obioma Onwuzurumba, was the one conducting the session. He threw a
question at the congregation and his wife, Martha, stood up to offer an
answer.
It was in the process of answering that
question that the main door of the fully air-conditioned chapel was
thrown open to enable Mrs. Jonathan and her retinue of aides to move in.
Mrs. Onwuzurumba had to pause for a few minutes to allow the new
entrants find their seats before she continued with the answer.
question that the main door of the fully air-conditioned chapel was
thrown open to enable Mrs. Jonathan and her retinue of aides to move in.
Mrs. Onwuzurumba had to pause for a few minutes to allow the new
entrants find their seats before she continued with the answer.
Mama Peace remained calm throughout the
service. She read the first lesson of the service from Numbers 6:22-27.
After the message was delivered, Onwuzurumba announced that the
President and his family would offer a special thanksgiving while Mrs.
Jonathan would also offer another special thanksgiving.
service. She read the first lesson of the service from Numbers 6:22-27.
After the message was delivered, Onwuzurumba announced that the
President and his family would offer a special thanksgiving while Mrs.
Jonathan would also offer another special thanksgiving.
At
that point, I had started suspecting that something would happen. For
the first thanksgiving, Jonathan, his wife and members of their family
danced forward with their offering. They were asked to stand on the
altar and face the congregation while friends, political associates and
well-wishers danced forward, dropped their offerings and danced back to
their seats. All of us danced very well in the presence of God except
for Jonathan who had confessed penultimate Sunday that whenever he
considered what God had done in his life, he wished he could dance like
the biblical King David but he kept missing his steps whenever he made
attempts.
that point, I had started suspecting that something would happen. For
the first thanksgiving, Jonathan, his wife and members of their family
danced forward with their offering. They were asked to stand on the
altar and face the congregation while friends, political associates and
well-wishers danced forward, dropped their offerings and danced back to
their seats. All of us danced very well in the presence of God except
for Jonathan who had confessed penultimate Sunday that whenever he
considered what God had done in his life, he wished he could dance like
the biblical King David but he kept missing his steps whenever he made
attempts.
After praying for them, Onwuzurumba
announced that Mrs. Jonathan would give a short testimony before coming
for her thanksgiving. I quickly ran from my seat and located a
loudspeaker where I hurriedly placed my digital recorder. I knew that
mama would give a good story for Monday edition. I was however
disappointed when it was again announced that she would go ahead with
her thanksgiving without the testimony. I felt bad that those who
prevailed on her not to talk had deprived me of a good story.
announced that Mrs. Jonathan would give a short testimony before coming
for her thanksgiving. I quickly ran from my seat and located a
loudspeaker where I hurriedly placed my digital recorder. I knew that
mama would give a good story for Monday edition. I was however
disappointed when it was again announced that she would go ahead with
her thanksgiving without the testimony. I felt bad that those who
prevailed on her not to talk had deprived me of a good story.
To my greatest relief however,
immediately after the thanksgiving, Onwuzurumba again announced that
before Jonathan would speak to the congregation, a forerunner would come
and speak. That forerunner turned out to be Mrs. Jonathan. She was full
of smile as the congregation stood and clapped for her.
immediately after the thanksgiving, Onwuzurumba again announced that
before Jonathan would speak to the congregation, a forerunner would come
and speak. That forerunner turned out to be Mrs. Jonathan. She was full
of smile as the congregation stood and clapped for her.
After greeting almost everybody in the
church, including choristers who she described as “angels,” the
President’s wife took time to acknowledge journalists. “The media men
are not left out. Today is your day. You are here to carry (sic) the
last news,” she said as she joined the congregation that had already
erupted in laughter. I heard some colleagues saying, “God forbid! This
won’t be the last story we will write.”
church, including choristers who she described as “angels,” the
President’s wife took time to acknowledge journalists. “The media men
are not left out. Today is your day. You are here to carry (sic) the
last news,” she said as she joined the congregation that had already
erupted in laughter. I heard some colleagues saying, “God forbid! This
won’t be the last story we will write.”
The man behind the camera that projects
images on the television screens both inside and outside the chapel
mischievously focused his camera on the battery of television cameramen
that positioned themselves directly in front of Mrs. Jonathan. As the
image appeared on the screen, another round of laughter cut through the
chapel.
images on the television screens both inside and outside the chapel
mischievously focused his camera on the battery of television cameramen
that positioned themselves directly in front of Mrs. Jonathan. As the
image appeared on the screen, another round of laughter cut through the
chapel.
She held the congregation spellbound as
she recounted her health challenges while their stay in the Villa
lasted. At the last count, according to her, she had undergone 13
surgeries in the last two years. She attributed her continued existence
to God. The testimony earned her another round of applause and standing
ovation.
she recounted her health challenges while their stay in the Villa
lasted. At the last count, according to her, she had undergone 13
surgeries in the last two years. She attributed her continued existence
to God. The testimony earned her another round of applause and standing
ovation.
By the time the President would mount the
pulpit for his remarks, his wife had already done a good forerunner job
and he confirmed that when he said he would no longer bother to observe
any protocol as he would rely on the one already established by his
wife.
pulpit for his remarks, his wife had already done a good forerunner job
and he confirmed that when he said he would no longer bother to observe
any protocol as he would rely on the one already established by his
wife.
No doubt, Mrs. Jonathan will be missed by
all and sundry in the villa for different reasons. For me, I will miss
her because she gives me good story when she speaks, when she refuses to
speak or when she is absent when she is supposed to be present. Mama is
indeed journalists’ delight any day.
all and sundry in the villa for different reasons. For me, I will miss
her because she gives me good story when she speaks, when she refuses to
speak or when she is absent when she is supposed to be present. Mama is
indeed journalists’ delight any day.
Written by Olalekan Adetayo