First Lady Patience Jonathan has resigned her appointment as Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State
Civil Service. The Okirika, Rivers State-born wife of the president reportedly resigned due to rift between her and the Bayelsa state governor, Seriake Dickson.
She was one of the appointed 17 permanent secretaries in the state civil service in July 2012.
The appointment elicited critical reactions from Nigerians. In fact, some Bayelsa residents accused the Governor Seriake Dickson of politicising the civil service in the state.
The alleged frosty relationship between the governor and the President’s wife was said to have been triggered by Patience unwillingness to support Dickson’s second term bid.
Instead, it was learnt that Jonathan’s wife had expressed her preference for the Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matters, Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa.
A source said, “The whole thing is political. It appears Madam (the President’s wife) is not happy with the governor. With her resignation, the battle line has been drawn.
“I feel the President’s wife resigned to enable her to have the moral right to slug it out with Dickson ahead of the governorship poll in the state. Let no one deceive you, the whole thing is politics. After all, she is 57 and the retirement age is 60.”
