Patience Jonathan Reacts To Amaechi's Accusations

Dame Patience Jonathan, the wife of the president, dismissed the allegation that she was pressuring the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to manipulate the governorship election in Rivers state. Governor Rotimi Amaechi during a stakeholders meeting on April 9, 2015, alleged that Mrs. Jonathan was in her hometown, Okrika, to supervise electoral malpractices during the elections. Reacting to the accusations, the First Lady in a statement by the director of information in her office, Ihuoma Priscilla, said she could not be involved in act that would hinder peaceful conduct of elections in any part of the country. The statement read: “The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan has dismissed the allegation that she was pressurising the Independent National Electoral Commission (and the Security Agencies to rig tomorrow’s (April 11, 2015) elections in Rivers State. “As an apostle of peace and non-violent elections, the First Lady distances herself from any alleged actions that could hinder successful elections in Nigeria, especially in her home state, Rivers State. “She countered the insinuations that she was in her home town, Okrika for the purpose of the governorship election, pointing out that she registered in her husband, President Jonathan’s village, Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. “The First Lady, a highly respected indigene of Okrika in Rivers State visited her home town on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 to a tumultuous welcome by her kinsmen and women who thronged the streets to welcome and appreciate her wonderful support to her husband, the President and for bringing development to Okrikaland.” Patience Jonathan who was received to a rousing welcome by her kinsmen as she arrived her home state, Okrika, Rivers state, has always been at loggerheads with Rotimi Amaechi, who has accused her of masterminding the Okrika violence.