21st November, 2013
Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan has fallen ill in London and could not attend the meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investors’ Council, which started today.
President Jonathan who clocked 56 years yesterday “became indisposed and could not be present at the opening of the meeting today”, a statement by Reuben Abati said today.
According to Abati, President Jonathan “has since been examined by competent medical practitioners. He has been advised to rest for a few days.”
“The Presidency wishes to assure all Nigerians that President Jonathan’s condition is nothing serious and that the medical attention he has sought is only precautionary”, the statement added.
Abati did not reveal the cause of the sudden illness. He did not also state whether the illness will affect Jonathan’s scheduled return to Abuja on Saturday. On Sunday, President Jonathan is scheduled to hold a meeting with seven opposition governors in his ruling party, the PDP.
Jonathan is not publicly known to be suffering from any serious medical conditions.
He assumed the presidency in 2010 following the death of his predecessor Musa Yar’Adua.
Yar’Adua’s protracted illness, details of which were kept from the public, sparked a months-long political crisis in Africa’s most populous country.
Jonathan arrived London yesterday morning for the meeting with HIIC, which was slated to last three days.
He was received at the Luton Airport by officials of the Nigerian High Commission, led by Dr. Dalhatu Tafida.
Issues on the agenda of the meeting include generating long-term affordable finance for Nigeria’s real sector, developing Nigeria’s private equity and venture capital sectors to attract more foreign investments as well as Nigeria’s information and communications technology master-plan.
The meeting of the council which is coordinated by Baroness Lynda Chalker will also feature a review of Nigeria’s existing investment policies by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Paris-based international organization dedicated to the promotion of policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.
Members of the council include the CEO of the Investment Corporation of Dubai, Mr. Mohammed al Shaibani, a former South African Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr. Alec Erwin, the Vice President of Hewlett-Packard’s Enterprise Group in Europe, Middle-East and Africa, Mr. Olivier Suinat, a former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Shaukat Aziz and the Director of Shell’s International Upstream Business, Mr. Andrew Brown.
President Jonathan was accompanied by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, Senator Nenadi Usman, Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga, Hon. Isiaka Bawa, the Coordinating of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Olusegun Aganga and the Governor of the Central Bank, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi.
Others on the President’s entourage include the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, the Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, the Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Prof. Viola Onwuliri and heads of relevant government agencies.