The first lady Dame Patience Jonathan has been sworn in as one of the new permanent secretaries in the president’s state of Bayelsa, by Governor Seriake Dickson despite public condemnations.

A good number of Nigerians expressed disapproval on this move, but Dickson said that he had “done nothing wring and illegal” and that Mrs. Jonathan merited the post. He however did not mention a portfolio for the first lady. He said that would be for another day.

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. Hmmm...madam wetin u teach?

“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.

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