Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that his elder sister, Madam Obebhatein Jonathan’s death has left their aged mother, Mama Eunice Afeni-Jonathan, traumatised.
Jonathan said this on Friday at the deceased’s funeral at Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The Herald can report that Madam Obebhatein Jonathan died on January 11, 2024, aged 70.
The former president disclosed that Madam Obebhatein was his only surviving sibling from his aged mother.
He lamented that his aged mother was mourning her offspring instead of the other way round.
He said, “Death, as they say, is something we all pass through, but the time it comes also matters. Yes, we all will die someday, but time matters.
“My elder sister died at a time that we can gather these celebrities to celebrate her, but that our mother is to mourn her is the nasty aspect of the whole thing.
“My mother has lost her first child that ought to mourn her when God calls her. I have to sincerely thank the Bayelsa State First Lady and other women who came around her because I was then in London.
“If you knew what she used to be and what she is now, you will know that she is still traumatised. So continue to pray for my mum. God will see us through. I thank you,” he said.
In a message he shared on Facebook, the former president said the deceased was not just a sister but also a guide, a confidant, and a fellow dream-weaver.
“Together, we navigated the labyrinth of life, chasing shared dreams with a determination known only to those who truly understand the power of close sibling camaraderie.
“Even though she is no longer with us in body, her memory, and the love we shared will forever remain in my heart.
“Even though her death is painful, we take solace in the fact that she was an exemplary woman and role model who lived a dedicated life of service to God and humanity,” he wrote.