Jonathan ill in London, fails to meet investors

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.”
•President Goodluck Jonathan: falls ill in the
UK
“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.
Jonathan on arrival in London yesterday
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 agencie