First Lady Dame Jonathan Sworn In As Bayelsa Permanent Secretary

Governor Seriake d*1*c;kson went ahead today to swear in wife of Nigeria’s president, Dame Patience Jonathan as one of the new permanent secretaries in the president’s state of Bayelsa, ignoring an array of public condemnations.



At the ceremony today [July 20], d*1*c;kson insisted that he had “done nothing wrong and illegal” and that Mrs. Jonathan merited the post. Unlike the other permanent secretaries, d*1*c;kson did not announce a portfolio for her, saying it would be done at a later date.

Many Nigerians, including opposition politicians have condemned the appointment in strong terms.

Dame Patience Jonathan's Response To Her New PERM SEC Office:

In her response after the swearing-in, Dame Patience Jonathan justified her acceptance of the promotion to the office of a Permanent Secretary in the civil service of the Bayelsa State government saying that outside her role as the wife of the President she deserves and reserves the right to pursue her career to its heights.

She said that she wasn’t the first person in such position in the world or the country to pursue a career outside her role as a wife of a political office holder.

She said that she was last promoted 13 years ago even though she had been working in the state as a teacher before transferring her service to the ministry of education.

She disclosed that she had been working as a teacher before she met her husband who was her lecturer in school. She wondered what the uproar about her appointment was all about when her role as the First lady of the federation was not even constitutional and the fact has been drummed to her hearing by several people.

Quote

“When it suits them, they will say we don’t have office. Remember when I went to Lagos for peace advocacy, the Governor of Lagos State said that my husband should call me to order since my office is not in the constitution and that I have no office. Why now won’t I pursue my career that I am sure of?“

“We the wives of political office holders, if our name is not in the constitution and our husbands will retire with full benefits then they should find a role for us when they are amending the constitution. They should look into our own affairs,” she said.

Posted: at 21-07-2012 01:14 AM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Women of opportunity and position rather than virtue should open doors to all women by breaking barriers that prevent others from moving on and doing better. Mrs. Dame Patient Goodluck has done well here to set an example for all Nigerian and African women to set goals for themselves. Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs ending with self actualization comes to terms with what this woman has done for all women in practical and symbolic way. I endorse it.     

Posted: at 21-07-2012 02:45 AM (12 years ago) | Newbie

ok

Posted: at 21-07-2012 03:14 AM (12 years ago) | Hero

Congrat Mrs Patient.. It's not easy as a lady to attend such height.

Posted: at 21-07-2012 04:19 AM (12 years ago) | Upcoming

 

Posted: at 21-07-2012 05:38 AM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac

 

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Posted: at 21-07-2012 07:28 AM (12 years ago) | Addicted Hero

The rich getting richer leaving the poor behind... Why wont d poor be violent & keep hating/envious d rich when they dnt care abt them. Hw many salary only she wan dey receive? I pass joo

Posted: at 21-07-2012 07:55 AM (12 years ago) | Hero

I'm so ashamed of these people!

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Posted: at 21-07-2012 09:49 AM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac

She has not been functioning as a career civil servant. How many career civil servants are behaving the way she is? Can we run our parastatals like the way she is running and we will not be too inefficient(mind you the state government is inefficient)? How can a functional first lady accept to be made a permanent secretary when she has not been going to the office as a civil servant for years? It is a pity that Nigerian government both at the state and federal levels are being run like private organisations. The president heard this and he kept quiet asking Nigerians to do whatever they like. Somebody has even said that GEJ is encouraging corruption and it means that he too is corrupt. No wonder he said he does not need to declare his asset and that he does not give a damn about it.
IT IS A PITY THAT GEJ IS REPRESENTING THE BEST CANDIDATE FROM THE SOUTH SOUTH and if the best from this region cannot manage the resources of this country better than his predecessor, then they do not deserve any place in future.

Posted: at 21-07-2012 11:34 AM (12 years ago) | Upcoming

so she go dey collect money as first lady and also permanent secretary shits............i hate to hear any news about nigerian politics because is always full of shits....ewa funmi ni visa,,,nyem via bikco...aboki nah kao visa

Posted: at 21-07-2012 11:58 AM (12 years ago) | Newbie