Date Published: 05/24/10

Mrs Jonathan’s again 

By Douglas W. Dodiyi-Manuel 

I consider it rather sad to write this note, because it may arouse political perceptions, but if it has ever been imperative to write against injustice, the pain is mine to take. 

Recently, the media witnessed a rather sadistic publication that suggested an inadvertent personage of the First Lady, Her Excellency, Mrs Patience Jonathan. 

Without dancing round the issue, it should be understood that before being the wife of a Deputy Governor, to Governor, to Vice President, to President, Mrs Jonathan was first a free-born citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and her privacy is protected by the Constitution of Nigeria. 

History tells us that the democratic societies of the world evolved from Direct Democracy to Representative Democracy, which is due to the dynamic nature of the human character and incremental demographic changes. Today, we are talking about grass-root politics, which tends to take us back to Direct Democracy, but in a modernized fashion, because the grass-root factor presupposes a well-localized political operation, and elicits periodic reality-check. 

Furthermore, we understand that the task of public trust is herculean; nevertheless, garnished with State-grandeur, which has the potency of taking you out of touch with the grass-root realities and necessities of the people, and possibly, impose megalomania on your psyche and sense of social perception. At this point, you can no longer pass a psychiatric test of normalcy. 

It is therefore my inference that Her Excellency, Mrs Patience Jonathan is making conscious effort to be in constantly touch with reality, which may explain why she opted to take a commercial flight in spite of her presidential privileges. This is precedential from President Barrack Obama of the United State of America, who insisted on having his blackberry handset with him. With the blackberry at hand, he can pop into his private life and natural associations intermittently, in order to regain reality. 

The authors of the publication also insinuated that Her Excellency, Mrs Patience Jonathan has money laundry scandals against her, hence it is their expectation that her private lifestyle be amended in order to suggest contrition. They must have forgotten that Mrs Patience Jonathan has never enjoyed immunity from prosecution; hence, if there was a prema facie case against her, she would have since been arrested and prosecuted. 

That she was not prosecuted suggests either of two things: 

1: The Anti-Graft agency is docile. 

2: It was a politically instigated rumour. 

I believe the later should be the case, because the Anti Graft Agency in Nigeria gained its good reputation at the time of this rumour, and under the Chairmanship of Nuhu Ribadu, so I am more inclined to believing that it was a baseless politically motivated rumour, and thus should gain no more credence or attention. 

Further, I want to emphasize the enigma of the first couple of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck and Patience Jonathan. Their fate accentuates their their names, “Goodluck/Patience”, and indicates the hand of God in their life. This was evident, when on the 6 th of May 2010, Nigerians woke up to see His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan being sworn in as President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

His ascendancy defied all political calculations and permutations, and to the awe of his friends and foes, even “The Cabal”, he is suddenly President of Nigeria. 

To this end, I want to advise detractor. When God decides to favour a man, He fights his battles, and like a moving train, everything on his way will be crushed. 

So far, Mr President has demonstrated humility and the willingness to be advised, hence if you have the good of Nigeria at heart, advise him in and with love. 

I also want to use this medium to advise Her Excellency, Mrs Patience Jonathan, to continue to be the a virtuous wife unto her husband. Be that lone voice of truth in the bedroom, when all the sycophants have retired, and he finds reposed in your warmth, as his humanity once more may call. Be rooted in truth and honour, for your husband is clung to you. 

May his pledge be to Nigeria, our country: to be faithful, loyal and honest. To serve Nigeria with all his strength, to defend her unity, and uphold her honour and glory, for your help is in God. 

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!