FIRST LADY SNUBS RIVERS DEPUTY GOVERNOR

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First
Lady Patience Jonathan yesterday arrived in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State
capital, on a three-day visit.
Mrs
Jonathan is believed to be in her home state to prepare for the funeral of her
mother, Madam Charity Oba, who died in a car crash last month.
Her
visit to Port Harcourt in June generated some row. Streets were blocked,
causing traffic chaos in the Garden City during her seven –day stay, which was
generally believed to be political because of the feud between the Federal
Government and the Rivers State government. She, however, denied that her trip
had any political undertone
Ahead
of her arrival, there was heavy police presence on some major roads in Port
Harcourt.

Security
operatives mounted surveillance on her residence on Bauchi Road, Old GRA, Port
Harcourt.
Police
spokeswoman Angela Agabe said on arrival, the First Lady flew to Okrika, her
home town.
Dame
Patience was shielded from top officials of the Rivers government, including
the Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru, who came to receive her at the airport.
It was
gathered last night that the Rivers government team, led by Ikuru was at the
Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa to receive the President’s wife,
but was not allowed to move to the tarmac.
Ikuru
was accompanied by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), George
Feyii, some commissioners and other top Rivers government officials.
The
impeccable source said the Presidency had earlier informed the Rivers
government of the First Lady’s visit, with necessary arrangements made to make
the visit memorable and hitch-free.
The
source said: “A Lieutenant Colonel approached the members of the Rivers state
government’s team at the Port Harcourt International Airport and told them that
they had directives from the Presidency that they should not be allowed near
the First Lady.
“Wife
of the Bayelsa State Governor, Mrs. Rachael Dickson, was allowed to receive the
First Lady at the airport. It was very embarrassing and annoying.”

Source:
The Nation

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