Dame Patience Jonathan: attacks Amaechi’s administration

The wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, has launched an attack against Rivers state Governor Rotimi Amaechi, calling his administration divisive and vowing to block Amaechi’s successor from winning the state.

Mrs. Jonathan spoke to the Okrika Council of Chiefs, on the sideline of the burial ceremony for Ijaw leader, Senator Tari Sekibo, in her hometown of Okrika.

The Punch reported Patience Jonathan as saying she would continue to stand by those committed to the inclusive development of the people of the state and not leaders who insist on emasculating other groups through policies that will displace them.

The report further quoted her as saying “that such leaders would also not be allowed to produce their successor in the state, adding that their anointed successor had been briefed to continue with similar divisive policies.”

While attacking the Amaechi administration, Patience Jonathan marketed her candidate for the governorship position in the state, Nyesom Wike, former minister of state for education.

“Before you today is the next governor of Rivers State. He is the former Minister of State for Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike. The PDP is the best party and the most popular party in the country. The PDP is the leading party that will win Rivers State,” she said.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi belongs to the All Progressives Congress. His party has named Dakuku Peterside, a former commissioner of works in the state and a member of the House of Representatives, as the governorship candidate.

Amaechi has had open disagreements with Mrs. Jonathan in the past and disparaged her meddlesomeness in the governance of the state.

At St. Peter’s Cathedral in Okrika, Mrs. Jonathan stirred no controversy when she described Senator Tari Sekibo’s contributions to the Ijaw Nation, as selfless.

Sekibo, 74, the immediate past President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), died on Nov. 18, 2013.

“He lived a life of selfless service to the Ijaw nation and the country at large. He was very dependable; He did not succumb to financial inducement,” she said.

Mrs Jonathan said further that the late Sekibo was her inspiration and mentor.

“When you see me champion the cause of the Okrika people, I am only following in his (Sekibo) footsteps. Indeed, he was a bridge builder, disciplinarian and a peace maker. His death is a painful loss to the Ijaw nation; we cannot question God. I pray that we will have someone like him again and may he rest in perfect peace.”