President’s wife shuns Dickson at Jonathan’s birthday

Mrs. Patience Jonathan
| credits: kenetomagazine.blogspot.com

                                                                                          

Wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, tactically avoided the Bayelsa State delegation, led by Governor Seriake Dickson, who came to rejoice with the President on his 57th birthday in Abuja on Thursday.

No member of the National Assembly from the state was also on the delegation.

There has been no love lost between the governor and the President’s wife over an alleged plan by Mrs. Jonathan to stop Dickson from being re-elected as the state governor.

The PUNCH had reported exclusively on Thursday that Bayelsa senators and members of the House of Representatives at the National Assembly had joined forces with the First Lady against Dickson.

The report had it that the federal legislators had formed a strong alliance to counter the moves by the governor and his loyalists to re-elect them in the 2015, through zoning, allegedly orchestrated by Dickson.

The report added that the aggrieved lawmakers had backed the moves by Mrs. Jonathan to replace Dickson with her loyalists in 2016.

The President’s wife who attended the first event to mark her husband’s birthday earlier in the day was conspicuously absent during the visit of the Bayelsa delegation about two hours after.

Jonathan, however played down his wife’s absence while thanking members of the delegation for the visit.

He simply said his wife “left” without disclosing her whereabouts.

“On behalf of my wife who just left, I sincerely thank you the governor, the government and our traditional rulers and our brothers and sisters from the state who have done this,” he simply said.

Dickson had earlier told Jonathan that the delegation was in the Presidential Villa to show their solidarity, support and love to him on his birthday.

He also said contrary to reports, Bayelsa State was united, stable and peaceful.

The governor later told State House correspondents that he would not dignify those claiming that there is a rift between him and the President with a response.

Earlier, President Jonathan had agreed with those campaigning for the removal of immunity clause from the nation’s constitution, saying some people do not merit it.

According to the nation’s Constitution, the President, Vice President, state governors and their deputies enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution.

But Jonathan frowned on a situation where those who enjoy immunity abuse the privilege by making statements, he said, were capable of threatening the country’s survival.

He said, “If there are people making statements, threatening the survival of this country, especially some people who probably have constitutional immunity and are abusing that privilege.

“That is why most Nigerians are saying that immunity clause should be removed, because some people don’t merit it, since they abuse it.

“Some people are making remarks that are more or less treasonable. Don’t be worried, nobody can upturn this country.

“This country must continue and we will not give up to blackmail by anybody. We will do our best and Nigeria must survive this temporary setback like Boko Haram and other security challenges.”

Jonathan reiterated his position that despite the challenges being faced by the country, Nigeria would not disintegrate.

He said although the road might be rough, other nations had passed through such rough roads.

“Let me use this opportunity to reassure our people and all Nigerians that yes, as a nation, we have our challenges. Yes, it is rough, other nations have passed through such rough roads.

“I always said that I don’t know whether the State of Isreal have ever known peace for one day, but they are moving, they are developing.

“Go to America today, most of the millionaires are Jews, but they are always fighting to survive. So, that we have challenges should not be misconstrued that the country will come to an end.

“We will surely overcome those challenges and this country must move forward, this country must unite,” the President declared.

Before the Bayelsa delegation’s arrival at the Presidential Villa, some family members, friends and aides had on Thursday morning joined President Jonathan to celebrate his 57th birthday.

The birthday was marked with a short holy communion service inside the President’s official residence at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The service was officiated by his Chaplain, Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba.

Jonathan, joined by his wife, Patience, and his mother, Eunice, later proceeded to cut his birthday cake.