According to media reports, the first lady shunned the
deputy Governor of Rivers State who came with other government officials to
receive her at the airport in Rivers state on Sunday as she arrived in the
state for a private visit to make arrangements for her late mum's burial. In a
statement released yesterday, Mrs Jonathan explained that the reason she
shunned the deputy governor and other state officials was because the governor
of Rivers state, his wife and other top officials of the state didn't pay her a
condolence visit when she lost her foster mother. Read the statement below...
The attention of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has
been drawn to reports carried in some sections of the media alleging that top
officials of the Rivers government, including the Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru
who came to receive the First Lady, were shielded from Dame Jonathan on her
arrival at Port Harcourt International Airport on Sunday, (18/08/2013). Some of
the media reports went to the extent of alleging that Dame Jonathan “snubbed”
the Deputy Governor.
It is important to set the record straight in order to
prevent the public from being misled. The First Lady arrived in Rivers State
yesterday (on Sunday) for a private visit, to make arrangements for the burial
of her late mother with members of her extended family.
Customarily, the wife of the State Governor receives the
First Lady whenever she visits any state. That is why the wife of Bayelsa State
Governor traveled from Yenagoa to receive the First Lady. Ordinarily, one would
have expected the same complement from the wife of the Rivers State Governor.
It is instructive to note that since the death of Mrs.
Charity Oba, the mother of the First Lady, several groups and individuals from
across the country have come to condole the First Family at the State House,
Abuja. They include Executive State Governors and their wives from all the
political divides; Nigeria’s former Presidents and Heads of State and their
wives, captains of industry, female Ambassadors and High Commissioners of
Nigeria, other members of the diplomatic corps, royal fathers and traditional
leaders - the list is too numerous to call. However, the Governor and the wife
from the State which the First Lady hails have not paid such a visit.
It should be clear to all that for quite some time now, the
First Lady has refrained from commenting on issues relating to the politics of
Rivers State. Dame Patience does not want her name to be used to heat up the
polity. We therefore urge that the name of the First Lady be left out of the
politics in Rivers State.
The First Lady, like any Nigerian, is free to visit the
state of her birth. But we are forced to ask: why the presence of the First
Lady in Rivers State always generate rumpus? Dame Jonathan bears no grudge
towards anyone as she is an individual who continues to tirelessly advocate for
peace and harmony in Nigeria. We therefore reiterate that the First Lady’s name
be left out of the politics in the State.
Ayo Adesugba (Mrs.)
Director (Information)
19 August, 2013
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