Dame Patience Jonathan Sworn In As Perm Sec

On Friday, Seriake Dickson, the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State inaugurated Dame PATIENCE JONATHAN, wife as a Permanent Secretary. The appointment had attracted a lot of controversy but like the President himself once said, they don't really give a damn! Mrs. Jonathan was sworn in with 18 others at the Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, the state capital. Security was supertight. 

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State swears in wife of the Nigerian President, Dame Patience Jonathan as a Permanent Secretary. 

Trust our people na, there were praise-singers and dancers outside the venue singing their throats out for a few naira notes. She came in at about 12.40 pm, and she proceeded straight to the hall walking on the red carpet laid out for Her Majesty :)))

Although other permanent secretaries were already seated for two good hours before the real event, she came in followed by the Governor, Seriake Dickson. Full of bright smiles, she was the first to be sworn in alone while others were sworn in in batches of six, na wa o...lol

And the Dame becomes a Permanent Secretary. 

Governor Dickson said that his government followed due process and there was no lobbying and no one pressurized him to make our Dame a permanent secretary. Well, the Mama of the Nigerian nation also had plenty of things to say. She said that no matter the amount of criticism, she was obliged to accept the promotion. She alluded that even in other nations, wives of presidents hold positions of ministers and could not understand the flood of criticism which pained Her Excellency. 

She also expressed her disappointment in the face of the fact that the Nigerian Constitution does not recognize the office of the First Lady and thus, she is not constitutionally assigned no role. She even asked that the constitution be reviewed so that when the president's wife leaves office, she too, like the husband can enjoy all the retirement benefits (on top all that one???) Wetin you go now chop remain for us? 

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State

She did not stop there o. She said that for our great nation, Nigeria to develop, first ladies have to be recognized and empowered under the constitution (nitori kini?) and she noted that she has always been a civil servant, very much capable and her appointment should not surprise anybody. 


She also lashed out at Governor Fashola who wrote to that the President should call his wife to order when she caused one of the most debilitating traffic jams while on visit to Lagos State. Hear the Dame: 

“We the wives of political office holders, if our name is not in the constitution and our husbands will retire with full benefits then they should find a role for us when they are amending the constitution. They should look into our own affairs,”

“We should be included in the constitution so that we too can retire with benefits. With that, we can enjoy our career. 

“When it suits them, they will say we don’t have office. Remember, when I went to Lagos for peace advocacy, the governor of Lagos State said that my husband should… my name is not in the constitution that I have no office. Why now won’t I pursue my career that I am sure of.” 

When she was asked whether she would leave Abuja to resume work in Bayelsa, she said: 

 ”My allegiance, my commitment, my support, goes to the Governor of Bayelsa State. Any assignment the governor asks me to do, I will do it to the best of my knowledge, and any other Federal assignment I will do it”. 

Well, she is yet to be assigned any portfolio or ministry yet. What do you make of all that she has said and the appointment itself? Is Nigeria not just a wonderful nation? 

Taking the oath of office. 

This woman no send anybody. She tells the haters: talk the hands...lol!

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

IYANIWURA.