First Lady snubs Rivers deputy governor

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.”