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| Description: Though her position as First Lady does not have any legal backing, Dame Patience Jonathan has become a woman whom politicians defy at their own perils as the country approaches the 2015 elections. Governorship aspirants, who realise her influence, Sunday Trust learnt, are soliciting her support. This has created so much anxiety among governors that they had to approach President Jonathan and appeal to him to prevail on the First Lady against endorsing any governorship aspirant. In her home state in Rivers State, Dame Patience’s endorsement of Nyesom Wike, a former Minister of State for Education, for governorship in next year’s elections has raised much dust because it contravened the zoning understanding in the state. Even in Adamawa State, it is the same situation that is playing out. Though the governorship has been zoned to the Central Senatorial District, it was learnt that the First Lady is throwing her weight behind another aspirant from a different zone. But it is not only governorship aspirants who court the First Lady, even ministers and heads of government departments and agencies made deliberate attempts to reach her and seek her intervention in their affairs. Perhaps, apart from President Jonathan, Dame Patience is the next most powerful person in Aso Rock Villa. |
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