Patience Jonathan's mother to be buried on Oct. 31

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has disclosed that the burial of her late foster mother, Mrs Charity Oba, would take place on Oct. 31.

Jonathan made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja when former first ladies visited her to condole with her on the death of Oba, fondly called `Mama Sisi.'

She said: 'Words cannot express how happy I am when you all came in this evening.

'It is only when you love someone you can share in their happy or sad moment. The burial will be on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1,' she said.

The president's wife expressed sadness over the loss of her mother.

'My regret is that I couldn't reward her enough before her death because I was just two years when my mum gave me to her.

'She was my friend and confidant. She moved with me to my husband's house, took care of my children because I had no nanny. She was more than a mother to me.''

The first lady informed her visitors that she received a condolence message from Hajiya Maryam Abacha who was away on lesser hajj.

Mrs Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi who spoke on behalf of the visitors, urged Jonathan to take heart as death was painful.

'Death is painful; we always ask why when it comes but we cannot question God.

'We know you are strong enough to bear the pain and pray to God to give you the fortitude to bear the loss and continue the good work you are doing for women,' she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Uche Azikiwe presented a condolence card to the first lady on behalf of the former first ladies (NAN)