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Tag: Patience Jonathan

  • Patience Jonathan’s mother for burial November 1

    Patience Jonathan’s mother for burial November 1

    Mrs. Charity Oba, the foster mother of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, would be buried on November 1.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mrs. Jonathan made the announcement on Tuesday when some former first ladies visited her in Abuja.

    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 would be on October 31 and November 1,” she said.

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

    She said, “My regret is that I couldn’t reward her enough before she died 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 the first lady 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.

     

  • First Lady sues for peace in Rivers State

    First Lady sues for peace in Rivers State

    Worried by the crisis in Rivers State, First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan on Monday called on all actors in the crisis to sheath their swords in the interest of the innocent citizens in the state.

    In a statement issued by her Special Assistant on Media, Ayo Osinlu, the First Lady noted that the poor including women and children always bear the consequences of such impasse.

    She also warned the political heavyweights in the state not to allow the crisis to be hijacked by miscreants and hoodlums.

    The statement reads: “This office wishes to call on all feuding parties in Rivers State to spare a thought for the social, political and economic costs of the crisis, and consider an urgent way to resolve all political differences.”

    “It is our position that the greater consequences of the impasse is, as usual, reserved for the poor, the weak and the vulnerable, especially women and children, who are usually innocent bystanders in all these.”

    “This derives naturally from the saying that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”

    She went on: “On a larger scale, we subscribe to the fact that conflicts and violence are the most lethal threats to peace, which itself is the irreducible minimum condition for development.”

    “The situation must therefore not be allowed to degenerate to a level that can be hijacked by miscreants and hoodlums, thus exposing everyone to insecurity from which there may be no easy escape.”

    “We therefore call on elders of the state to position themselves appropriately in the circumstances, and continue to seek the highest good of Rivers state and its people, by stone-walling the activities of the few who would rather fan little embers into a consuming inferno.”

    “Recent experience whereby certain otherwise respected elders of the country, both from within and outside Rivers State, were canvassing views that seemed to intensify the heat in Rivers State, is certainly unfortunate.”

    “We also recall recent pictures of some youths on the streets of Port Harcourt, obviously in an angry mood, a worrisome suggestion that the crisis is already threatening to spill to the streets, a dimension we cannot afford to allow to escalate for obvious reasons.”

    “We must stress that the people of the state desire and look forward to an end to the hostilities, to pave way for higher economic activities and nobler political engagements that will guarantee an enhancement of their welfare.”

    “It is therefore incumbent on all people of goodwill to seek to restore peace, brotherliness and love in Rivers State, for the state to press forward in the direction of growth and progress.” She stated

  • ‘Nigeria one of world’s most promising democracies’

    ‘Nigeria one of world’s most promising democracies’

    The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has said that Nigeria has grown to become one of the most promising democracies in the world.

    Jonathan said this on Saturday in Abuja at the distribution of wrappers to various groups to commemorate the celebration of Democracy Day on May 29.

    She was represented at the occasion by the Peoples Democratic Party National Women Leader, Dr. Kema Chikwe.

    She said: “The celebration of Democracy Day is significant to Nigerians because it has restored dignity to the people.

    “Democracy has also given Nigerians a strong voice in decision making within the context of governance of our nation whereby our desires and opinion are reckoned with in the process of development.

    “It is therefore a thing of joy that the country has become one of the most promising democracies of the World.

    “The government is making conscious efforts to ensure that Nigeria is peaceful, united and an independent nation, in spite of the many challenges facing the country.’’

    The First Lady urged women to engage in activities that would promote the unity of the country and to contribute their quota, “no matter how little’’, to make Nigeria a better place.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr. Jake Epelle of the Albino Foundation, presented a world report on Albinism to the First Lady.

    Mr. Samuel Kehinde, who spoke on behalf of people “Living with Disabilities,” appealed to the First Lady to prevail on President Goodluck Jonathan to ascent to the bill on people living with disabilities.

     

  • Court fixes May 2 for judgment in Yar’Adua wife’s suit over land

    Justice Peter Affen of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Jabi, has fixed May 2 for judgment in a case instituted by former First Lady, Turai Yar’Adua against her successor, Patience Jonathan, following their inability to settle.

    Mrs Yar’Adua had sued, claiming that Mrs Jonathan has trespassed on the 1.84 hectares land in Abuja earlier allocated to her pet project, Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF).

    Joined as co-defendants in the suit are the Minister of FCT, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

    Yesterday, WAYEF opposed an application by the other parties for further adjournment, following which the judge informed the parties that the judgment was ready and would be delivered if parties failed to settle before May 2.

    The disputed land, plot no. 1347 Cadastral Zone AOO, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT, was initially allocated to WAYEF while Mrs Yar’adua was the First Lady.

    The FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed had revoked the allocation for what he described as “overriding public interest” and reallocated the same land to Mrs. Jonathan on the 2nd of November, 2011 for the building of the African First Lady Peace Mission headquarters.

    Mrs. Yar’Adua complained that the land allocated to WAYEF on 19 February 2010 was being trespassed upon by Mrs. Jonathan and got a court order dated 5 March 2012 restraining the defendants from affecting WAYEF’s title and interest over the land.

    WAYEF, through its lawyer, Adamu Ahmed Ibrahim and Company is asking for N1.5 billion as general damages, N100 million as exemplary damages, N100 million as aggravated damages in addition to N261 million already paid for Certificate of Occupancy as well as N454 million paid for building designs.

    WAYEF stated that while it appears that the Ministry of Justice may be interested and committed to a settlement, their terms and what they offer says otherwise.

    It said the land being offered by the FCTA was a much smaller parcel of land than the one purportedly acquired from WAYEF for the first lady

     

  • Patience Jonathan calls for legislation on gender equality

    Patience Jonathan calls for legislation on gender equality

    The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has called on the National Assembly to ensure the prompt passage of the appropriate legislation on gender equality and a law that would guarantee opportunity for the sound education of the girl-child in Nigeria.

    The First Lady made this call yesterday at the opening ceremony of a two-day National Conference to celebrate 100 years of the Nigerian woman with the theme: “ Achieving 50/50 by 2020”, which was held at the convention centre of Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos.

    The First Lady asserted that in the last 100 years Nigerian women have achieved tremendous progress at all levels of human endeavour, noting that without the contributions of past heroines, the country would not have witnessed this level of progress.

    She, however, cautioned that such progress cannot be permanent until there is appropriate legislation to back it up.

    “Nevertheless, we need to sound a note of caution here because these gains can only become permanent, if they are backed by legislation. We, therefore, appeal to the National Assembly to ensure the passage of a legislative endorsement on affirmative action as well as demonstration of an appropriate instrument and framework on gender and equal opportunity.

    “It is only when this is done that it will become a law for all to obey. Additionally, it is also imperative to appeal to the National Assembly to urgently facilitate an appropriate legislation to guarantee opportunity for sound education of the girl-child,” Dame Jonathan said.

  • Patience Jonathan’s thanksgiving service

    Patience Jonathan’s thanksgiving service

  • I was dead for a week, had nine operations – Patience Jonathan

    I was dead for a week, had nine operations – Patience Jonathan

    Recounting her experience on the hospital bed last year, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan has revealed that she was dead for a week  and is lucky to be alive.

     She was hospitalized for several weeks in Germany last year and also went for medical check-up early this year.
    Speaking at a special Church thanksgiving service on Sunday in Abuja, she said that she underwent eight to nine surgery operations within a month during her illness last year.
    Likening her experience to that of the Biblical Lazarus, she expressed gratitude to God for sending her back as she rededicated herself to doing things that will touch the lives of the less privilege in the society.
    She said: “I remember when Chief Obasanjo was the President of the country, I was close to his late wife, Stella. We worshipped together in this chapel. It was a painful moment for me that time when she died and her corpse was brought here.”
    “That was how my corpse would have been brought here. It was not an easy experience for me. I actually died, I passed out for more than a week. My intestine and tummy were opened.
    “I am not Lazarus but my experience was similar to his. My doctors said all hope was lost. A black doctor in London who is with us in this service was flown in when the situation became critical. It was God himself in His infinite mercy that said I will return to Nigeria. God woke me up after seven days.
    “I know that some people somehow leaked the information that I was dead.  They are people that I trust and rely on; to them, I was dead and I would never return to the country alive. Some of them even sold my things off.
    “I won’t say everything here. It is the Lord’s doing that I returned alive. When God says yes, nobody can say no.
    “People are always afraid of operation (surgery) but in my own case, while my travail lasted, I was begging for it (surgery) after the third operation because I was going to the theatre everyday.
    It was God who saw me through. I did eight or nine operations within one month. It was not an easy one. The day I came back, I said God I have nothing to say, I offer myself to you. I will be doing things that will touch the lives of the less privilege.
    “God gave me second chance because I reached there. He knew I have not completed the assignments He gave me, that was why I was sent back,” the first lady recounted.
  • Patience Jonathan weeps for Yakowa

    Patience Jonathan weeps for Yakowa

    … Says ‘He was a peaceful man’

    The First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on Monday broke down and wept at the official residence of the late Governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, when she came on a condolence visit to the family.

    This came just as the arrival of late Yakowa’s corpse to Kaduna was delayed by another 24 hours and will now arrive the state on Tuesday.

    The first lady, who arrived the Kaduna government house at exactly 1.12pm and departed at exactly 2.08pm said, “I am sorry that I cried. I cried because I am a woman and I know what the late governor’s wife is passing through at the moment. We came here to console her and sympathise with the good people of Kaduna State.

    Her words, “Yakowa was a peaceful man. He was everything, a strong and hardworking man. My sister and friend, we seat here with you in sorrow. I want you to know that you are now the mother and father of your children and we will continue to hold you in prayers.

    “It is only God that can comfort because man cannot comfort you. May Almighty God comfort you. It is quite unfortunate because this is the time we need Yakowa most in our lives; but God has called him. My beloved sister, takes heart, bears it and be there for your children.”

    On the condolence register, she wrote, “our dearly beloved Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, we received with rude shock, the news of your sudden and painful departure. We, however, give God praise that you lived a worthy life full of honour and integrity.

    “We are also gladdened that you were a true patriot who was devoted to the welfare of your people without respect for the divides and differences. Our prayer is that God almighty will receive you into His peace and grant your sweet repose.”

    .

     

  • Welcoming our dear Patience Jonathan

    Welcoming our dear Patience Jonathan

    I was angry when Dame Patience Jonathan left the country’s shores unceremoniously late August. I was still angry when she returned on Wednesday. Indeed, I was angrier when the media made her return an issue. Why must you roll the carpets out to welcome someone who did not bid you goodbye when she was travelling? Even if she was not capable of doing that, should her aides too not have explained at least a little of what the issue was as she was leaving the country, or even after she had left? To make matters worse, one of them had to remind us that madam is not his ‘mate’, when we asked him for an idea of when to expect the First Lady. “Is she my mate”, that I should ask her that kind of question? he asked angrily. Anyway, my Christian conscience would not allow me grudge her for too long. So, welcome back, ma’am.

    But I won’t allow what I noticed when she returned to go just like that. For a man whose wife had been away for about seven weeks, one would have thought that President Goodluck Jonathan would be more romantic when receiving his wife on her return. But, what did we see on Wednesday? A President Jonathan who appeared too shy to properly hug his Dame in the open, when she returned after the weeks of ‘resting’ abroad. He must have disappointed those of us who were waiting for the award-winning picture of the President hugging his wife on the tarmac, and squeezing her tight, Lagos-style, her two feet off the ground in the process. I trust President Barack Obama, if he had such an opportunity in the open, he would convert it to political advantage so that weeks after the great ‘event’, it would still be the focus of the media worldwide.

    President Jonathan would be lucky if the women’s rights groups would not conspire with others at large, to wit: sue him for this run-on-the-mill welcome peck. And when the President should have been making plan to make up for this casual welcome back home hug, he left the country for Niamey, the Niger Republic capital on official assignment. Pray, what business has he in Niamey at a time Patience’s lips must be saying something like ’near-me’?

    Anyway, President Jonathan has a rare third chance: having returned from Niamey, he should declare a week-long national holiday to do the needful; Nigerians would understand. Then, in their inner recesses in Aso Rock, they should put a sticker on the door with the stern warning: “First Couple at work” (or is it at play?) with some of the best hits of Donna Summer, Sonya Spence and (cap it with that of) Marvin Gaye, at the background. It is dangerous to let Patience run out of patience.

  • Patience’s second chance

    Patience’s second chance

    I join the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, in thanking God for returning ‘hale and hearty’ from her recent ‘trip’ to Germany.

    Considering speculations over her health while her six-week stay abroad lasted, she really has reasons to thank God that she came back alive. Among the speculations was that she went for a tummy-tuck operation, while some said she had a terminal disease.

    I remember seeing a particular edition of a soft-sell magazine with a headline that she was down with Parkinson syndrome being sold on the streets of Lagos. Much as I had doubt over the authenticity of the report I was really worried for Dame Patience.

    Apparently shocked by the wild speculations, the first lady on arrival immediately denied the reports but stated that “God has given me a second chance.” While Dame Patience should be angered by the speculations which indeed amount to unethical practices by the media organisations concerned, the presidency should be blamed for refusing to give a clear picture of why she was suddenly flown abroad.

     No official statement was issued on her trip until the online media was abuzz with speculations. Even when journalists requested for the whereabouts of the first lady, her media aide, Ayo Osinlu, first claimed that his boss was retiring, after the rigours of hosting the African First Ladies Summit.

    Thereafter he and other presidency officials declined to speak on the very sensitive issue and gave room for more fertile imaginations by the speculators. The president also kept mute over the issue and recently went to visit his wife who was supposed to be ‘resting’ in Germany. If indeed she was resting, there was no justification for the president’s visit. It was bad enough that our president’s wife could not rest at home and had to incur God-knows-how-much money to ‘rest’ abroad.

    Nigerians would have been more sympathetic if the truth of Dame Patience’s trip had been disclosed.

    Just like any human being, she could take ill and Nigerians deserve the right to know. If the best treatment she could get is abroad, so be it, but to have smuggled the First Lady out of the country and kept quiet about what was wrong with her amounts to the height of deception and undue secrecy about what should be public knowledge.

    This second chance is an opportunity to be the First Lady she should be.

    Now that she is back, she needs to work hard at making the best use of the second chance God has given her as she acknowledged. She should cut down her self-imposed multiple public functions which most times keep her in the news for the wrong reasons.

    She needs to operate more from the background than getting into controversies that rub off negatively on her husband. Since the role of the First Lady is not constitutional, Dame Jonathan should stop throwing her weight around like she has done on occasions when she clashed with elected officials.

    On this second chance, she should be modest in implementing whatever pet project she is running and not incur unnecessary expenditure like some first ladies before her, whose projects don’t outlive their stay in office.