The Resurrection Stories Patience Jonathan Should Tell Nigerians This Time
I am Lazarus and I know it
“I actually died. I passed out for more than a week. My intestine and tummy were opened.”
She said her doctors had actually given up all hopes of bringing her back to life, although she did not specify her diagnosis.
“It was God himself in His infinite mercy that said I will return to Nigeria. God woke me up after seven days.”
We could only mouth an ‘Amen’ at the time.
If online news medium, Sahara Reporters, is to be believed, Patience Jonathan has been flown to some unnamed country on health grounds for the umpteenth time. Grapevine sources have said the First Lady is shuttling between Spain, France and Germany as she battles her health woes all over again. We may have to brace up for some déjà vu of the inane variety in the days ahead– the Presidency will seek to pour cold water on the reports, over-fed and guttural media aides will be all over the place denying the reports. Some day, Patience Jonathan will deny she was ever ill in the first instance as she sashays through the tarmac of the international airport; fawning aides in tow. One good Sunday morning however, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and some Prelates will hop on a private jet to oversee a church service where an elated Patience Jonathan will gyrate before Government officials and ass lickers; gesticulating atop an illegal ‘First Lady’ Seal in a manner only the Biblical Lazarus would have managed.
The President’s wife will return home hale and hearty, I am certain. I am wishing her a speedy recovery on my honor. The resurrection stories the Jonathans should bother telling Nigerians in the coming months however, should be of revived hospitals, world class health facilities and better infrastructure that ensures Nigerians can get decent medical attention at home without having to fly several miles across the world in search of same. The resurrection story the Jonathans should be telling Nigerians should be of abandoning such frivolous projects as the N4billion Africa First Ladies’ secretariat in Abuja; the nation’s graft propelled seat of power. Nigerians would love to hear of the Jonathans striving to live what they preach: upholding noble values, fighting corruption and sparing some thought for the poor in our society.
A few days ago, a friend of mine lost his Dad to a case of misdiagnosis in one of the several consulting clinics we call hospitals around here. Another close friend told of how two of his friend’s kids died from a car mishap because there were no doctors on the ground when the kids were rushed to a nearby hospital. My younger brother’s wife almost lost her life during childbirth because some quack doctoremployed crude implements for what should have been a routine caesarian procedure. Several weeks later, another Doctor would discover a piece of cloth lying dangerously in her womb. Everywhere you turn in Nigeria; there is a sad tale of avoidable deaths, chilling tales of poverty and biting hunger.
Unfortunately, this is the same country where the likes of the Jonathans will mount the pulpit to sermonize on resurrection, successful surgeries and preside over wasteful thanksgiving bashes with several government praise singers tagging along unashamedly.
Nigeria needs a wholesale resurrection in its infrastructure, education, healthcare, appalling mindset of the bingeing political class, the flailing economy and other vital areas of our national life. Whether the Jonathans can deliver on these is a subject matter for another day. But it should be the kind of resurrection tales they should worry about rendering if they have any moral compass left in their mortal beings. The last time anyone checked, there was none.
Happy Easter celebrations, everyone!
The writer is on Twitter as @egbas
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