Patience Jonathan denies working against Bayelsa governor

WIFE of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, on Tuesday denied reports that she had been working against the re-election of Seriake Dickson, governor of Jonathan’s home state of Bayelsa, in 2016.

Mrs. Jonathan, who spoke with our correspondent through his media aide, Mr. Ayo Adewuyi, said there was no truth in the claim that she was witch-hunting the governor.

Adewuyi was reacting to a statement credited to an ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Dan Etete, who reportedly cautioned the wife of the President to stop interfering in the internal politics of the state. Continue after the cut...



Etete was reported to have accused Mrs. Jonathan of being jealous of the exceptional performance of Dickson, and promised to lead the fight to stop her from further frustrating the governor.

At an event marking his 70th birthday, the former minister expressed concern that instead for the President’s wife to clear the path for her husband’s re-election, she had been preoccupied herself with anti-Dickson stance.

He wondered who appointed Mrs. Jonathan as ‘lord’ over Bayelsa to determine who rule the state.

But Adewuyi said Etete should be aware of the fact that Mrs. Jonathan was not a party official and hence had no role to play in endorsing public officials.

He said, “People are just heating up the polity unnecessarily because Dickson is not even contesting this year. So, where is the anxiety of alleged plan of removal coming from?

“The First Lady is not witch-hunting anybody. We have said it many times that she is not a party official that endorses candidates for elections.

“They must be afraid unnecessarily because they are aware of her mobilisation strength. It is unfortunate that an elder statesman can be making claims without proper investigation.

“He must be trying hard to curry favour from some quarters.”