Jonathan Falls Ill In London

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday fell ill in London and, as a result, could not attend a meeting of Nigeria’s honorary international investors which he had gone for. He was said to have immediately been taken to a hospital in London where he was receiving treatment. A terse statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, noted, however, that the president’s health condition was not a serious issue, as the medical check he was meant to undergo was only a precautionary measure. Abati stated: “In the course of his ongoing visit to London for a meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investors’ Council, President Goodluck Jonathan became indisposed and could not be present at the opening of the meeting today. “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 president had left Nigeria in the early hours of Wednesday for London to preside over a three-day meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investors’ Council. Abati had noted in a statement he issued on Tuesday that issues on the agenda of the meeting included 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. He added that “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 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Paris-based international organization dedicated to the promotion of policies that will improve the economic and social wellbeing 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”. Abati further listed those on the president’s entourage to include Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, Senator Nenadi Usman, Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga, Hon. Isiaka Bawa, coordinating minister for the economy and minister of finance Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, minister of industry, trade and investments Dr Olusegun Aganga, and governor of the Central Bank Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Others are minister of petroleum resources Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, minister of communications technology Mrs Omobola Johnson, minister of power Prof. Chinedu Nebo, minister of special duties Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, minister of state (foreign affairs) Prof. Viola Onwuliri, and heads of relevant government agencies. He explained that the accompanying ministers and heads of agencies would brief the gathering on developments in their areas of responsibility and also lead discussions on proposals for overcoming identified challenges, even as he said the president was to return to the country at the weekend