PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan's mother Madam Eunice has already moved out of Aso Rock and settled into the family home in Otuoke as part of the ongoing plan to move out of the presidential villa ahead of May 29.  

According to reports from Bayelsa State, President Jonathan will be moving into a sprawling estate opposite a creek in his home town of Otuoke once he leaves office. His estate covers a large expanse of land contrasting sharply with its rustic surroundings in Otuoke, the small island community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. 

Over recent weeks, work has been stepped up on the estate with President Jonathan acquiring properties adjacent his home, to enable him expand the complex. Last week, his mother relocated to the newly refurbished estate as she did not return to Abuja with her son and is expected to await his return after leaving office. 

One presidency source said: “It is not an abnormal thing for the president’s mother to have relocated to the village after the president lost his re-election bid. Do you expect her to remain at the State House till May 29 when the president will hand over?” 

Since President Jonathan lost Nigeria's March 28 election, very little has been seen of her in public as was the case with his wife Dame Patience Jonathan. It was not until yesterday that Dame Jonathan has been seen in public since the elections when she accompanied her husband to a thanksgiving and farewell service organised in his honour at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Abuja. 

They are both expected to return to Otuoke together on May 29, by which time all renovation work on the seven acre estate is expected to have been completed. Befitting a former president, the estate is dominated by a central mansion while new structures including guest chalets, staff quarters and storage facilities have been erected around the main building.   

After first acquiring the buildings in 2013, President Jonathan engaged the services of construction company Jiito to expand the estate. Today, the mini-estate, which overlooks a creek that links Otuoke to other coastal communities of Bayelsa, dominates the landscape and all the buildings in the estate are said to be ready except one.