President Goodluck Jonathan Sunday night returned home from London where he attended the 15th meeting of the Nigeria’s Honorary International Investors’ Council (HIIC).
The HIIC, chaired by Baroness Lynda Chalker meets twice a year, one in Abuja and the other one in Europe.
The Council advises Nigerian government on how to attract Direct Foreign Investments (FDI) into the country.
President Jonathan had arrived London early Wednesday morning for the meeting scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
However, he could not attend the opening session because he suddenly had health challenges that compelled him to seek medical attention.
Presidential Media Adviser, Reuben Abati, had in a statement on Saturday said “Doctors who examined and treated President Goodluck Jonathan for the sudden onset of severe abdominal pains in London have certified him fully fit to return home and continue his official duties.
“After a thorough evaluation of the President’s symptoms, medically referred to as acute abdomen, the doctors concluded that no surgical intervention was required”.
On arrival at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, he was welcomed by top government functionaries including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, Ministers of FCT, Labour, Niger Delta and Culture and Tourism.
While fielding questions from State House correspondents, President Jonathan again, thanked Nigerians for their prayers and show of love, saying he really had health challenges while in London.
He said, “First, let me thank and appreciate Nigerians for the show of love and concern. First on Wednesday, even though I was in London I read how people congratulated me, remembering my birthday that I don’t normally celebrate anyway. But people know so they normally congratulate me and I read in the papers.
“I have to thank Nigerians especially on the issue of my health; I really had some health challenges. I have to thank God again because of the concern shown my Nigerians and the love. Thank God that I am very okay to resume work I believe from this night”.
Asked about the meeting he scheduled with the seven aggrieved governors, G7, he said he would not be able to hold the meeting until next week, stressing the importance of continuous discussion in the interest of the ruling party.
His words, “I don’t think I will be able to hold any meeting, you know six hours flight is quite a distance and also following from my health challenges but we will meet. I believe within the week we will be able to meet.
“Politics is about discussion, we belong to the same political party, even people from different political parties engaged in political discussion and political discussion is a continuous process, even during election people discuss. So we will continue to discuss”.
The President also confirmed that the Administrative Panel of Inquiry he set up on the N255 million BMW cars scandal has submitted its report.
It will be recalled that President Jonathan had on October 23, constituted a three-man committee chaired by a former Head of service of the Federation, Bello Sali to investigate the purchase of two BMW Li Series armoured cars at a grossly inflated cost of N255 million, allegedly for the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, without following due process.
