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