Condolence visit: Patience Jonathan lied against Rivers State government

The First Lady, Patience Jonathan, was economical with the truth when she accused the Rivers State government of ignoring her moment of bereavement, PREMIUM TIMES can reveal.

Mrs. Jonathan, in a tersely worded statement, late Monday, sought to lay to rest accusations that she snubbed Tele Ikuru, the Rivers State Deputy Governor, who had come to receive her at the Port Harcourt International Airport on Sunday.

The First Lady justified her actions stating that no official of her home state came to commiserate with her family after she lost her mother, Charity Oba, in a fatal auto accident.

Mrs. Oba died along the East-West Road in Rivers State, on July 22.

“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,” Mrs. Jonathan had said.

“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,” she had added.

But PREMIUM TIMES findings show that Rivers State government not only condoled with the First Lady; Judith Amaechi, wife of Rotimi Amaechi, the Rivers State Governor, was accompanied by Mr. Ikuru and other state government functionaries to a condolence visit to Mrs. Jonathan on July 26.

The Rivers State delegation had, earlier on that day, received Mrs. Jonathan at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

Several photographs of Mrs. Amaechi signing the condolence register at the King Perekule’s residence of the late Mrs. Oba were published by various newspapers.

During the condolence visit, Mrs. Amaechi signed the register placed before a framed portrait of Mrs. Oba and a photograph of Favour, her grandchild, who also died in the accident.

One week after Mrs. Jonathan’s loss, Mr. Amaechi issued a condolence statement over Mrs. Oba’s demise saying that he received the news with “utmost shock and sadness.”

“No doubt the demise of a loved one leaves us feeling hollow and alone. Yet, in the midst of our pain, we must not forget that we are Christians and therefore should not mourn like those without hope,” the Rivers governor had said.

The First Lady had reportedly snubbed Mr. Ikuru, who had gone to welcome her on Sunday, at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

Mrs. Jonathan’s security aides prevented Mr. Ikuru and other Rivers State government officials from getting near the First Lady.

Mrs. Jonathan justified her actions in her statement, late Monday, saying that no official of her home state came to commiserate with her family in their time of loss.