Jonathan loses dad - Yar’Adua condoles with VP

Okey Muogbo, Abuja with Agency Report - 14.12.2007

PA Lawrence Ebele Jonathan, father of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, died on Wednesday in Abuja at the age of 81. A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Communication, Mr. Ima Niboro, attributed the death to “old age.”

According to the statement, Pa Jonathan died “peacefully” at about 10:45 p.m. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that Pa Jonathan was initially taken to the Aso Clinic from where he was referred to the National Hospital, Abuja.

Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Dr. Segun Ajuwon, told NAN that the vice president’s father was “brought to the National Hospital on Wednesday for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).”

Mr.I is primarily used in medicine to visualise the structure and functions of the body. It also provides detailed images of the body.

Ajuwon said that Pa Jonathan was taken back to Aso Clinic where he passed on. The vice president’s spokesperson said burial arrangements for the deceased would be announced later.

Meanwhile, President Umaru Yar'Adua has condoled with Vice President Jonathan over the death of his father, from the United States, where he is holding talks with President George W. Bush.

A condolence message, signed by the president, described Pa Jonathan as a man who lived a fulfilled life. “I write on behalf of my family, the government and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to condole with you and the entire Jonathan family over the death of your illustrious patriarch, Pa Ebele Lawrence Jonathan.” the statement read in part.