I can visit Port Harcourt any time I like – Patience Jonathan •Leave me out of Rivers’ crisis, she pleads (After causing it)

Posted by admin First Ladies, Headlines, Patience Jonathan, Rivers, State News Tuesday, August 20th, 2013

THE First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has asked to be left out of lingering political crisis in her home state, Rivers State.
Mrs Jonathan, in her press release signed by the Director of Information, Office of the First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs Ayo Adesugba, said it was worrisome that the visit of the First Lady to her home state, unlike any other citizen of the state had continue to generate unnecesary uproar.
The statement reads in full:
“Our attention has been drawn to reports in some media claiming that the First Lady, Dame (Dr.) Patience Goodluck Jonathan snubbed the Deputy Governor of Rivers state, said to have gone to the Port Harcourt International Airport to receive her.
“The reports, by all indications, represent a contrived motive of some gladiators in the Rivers state crisis to continue to paint the first lady as an aggressor.
“It should be clear to all that for quite some time now, the first lady has refrained from commenting on issues relating to the Rivers state crisis while these gladiators have continued to use every media at their disposal to fan the embers of disharmony and hatred.
“By now, every right thinking person should know those genuinely interested in peace and those who claim to be democrat and committed to peace, but who have continued to heat up the polity.
“It is for this reason of the intrigue at play that the first lady would want to be left out of Rivers state crisis, hence making her visit to the state as quiet as possible, so as not to give room for mischief makers to succeed in their plans.
“Ordinarily, 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.
“In addition, as a daughter Rivers state, the first lady is free to visit the state any time she desires. But we are forced to ask: why the presence of the first lady in Rivers state always generate rumpus?
“It should be noted that while several groups and individuals from across the country came to condole the first lady and Mr. President on the death of her mother, no official of Rivers state government deemed it fit to pay the first family condolence visit, yet they claimed the first lady is a daughter of Rivers state.
“He who must go to equity must go with clean hands. They should learn to give respect to those who deserve respect so that they too can earn respect.”

-Tribunewp_posts