Patience Jonathan Shuns Rivers Deputy Gov, State Officials On Port Harcourt Arrival

Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan stunned the Rivers State government on Sunday as she shunned officials of the state who had gone to receive her on arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

According to reports, officials of the state government led by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Tele Ikuru, who had gone to receive Mrs. Jonathan at the airport, were not allowed access to the first lady.

The presidency was said to have previously communicated the state government on the planned three-day visit of the first lady to the state, adding that it was in response to this that the government made the necessary arrangements to receive her.

“Since the governor was out of town, the deputy governor had to lead a team of government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and commissioners, to receive her. But on getting to the airport, the team was not even allowed to get near the first lady.

“It was a military man, a lieutenant colonel, who approached them and told the team that they had directives from the presidency that they should not be allowed near the first lady. It was the wife of the Bayelsa State governor who was allowed to receive her,” a source revealed.

Sources also said security had been beefed up around her private residence at Bauchi Road, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, with security operatives setting up barricades around the vicinity.

The new development shows the feud between the Presidency and the Rivers State Government may not be over yet.