First Lady Patience Jonathan last night insisted that Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and his wife have not condoled with her over the death of her mother, Madam Charity Oba.
In a statement last night by Mrs Ayo Adesugba, the Director of Information in the First Lady’s office, Mrs Jonathan said the Rivers State first family ought to have visited her in Abuja to pay their condolence.
The statement said: “Many of us claim to serve God. God, whether as Christians or Muslims, is compassionate in nature. If truly we serve Him, this should reflect in our actions.
“We restate, for the avoidance of doubt, that neither the Rivers State governor nor his wife has come to the State House, Abuja, like so many other people from all walks of life, to condole with the First Family.
“This is a gesture of compassion, which comes from the heart. The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, therefore, holds no resentment towards anyone who does not wish to come to the State House or to her home in Port Harcourt to extend the act of commiseration.
“’They include Executive State Governors and their wives from all the political divides; Nigeria’s former Presidents and Heads of State and their wives, captains of industry, female Ambassadors and High Commissioners of Nigeria, other members of the diplomatic corps, royal fathers and traditional leaders – the list is too numerous to call’.
She added: “However, the Governor and the wife, from the state the First Lady hails, have not paid such a visit.
“The caption in the pictures above states that the photographs were taken in the house of the late mother of Dame Patience, Mrs. Charity Oba. However, the First Lady did not receive guests for condolence visits in her late mother’s home.
“All those who paid condolences and commiserated with Dame Patience during her visit to Rivers State, came to the First Lady’s home in Port Harcourt, where arrangements were made and facilities were made available to receive sympathisers.
“We can borrow a leaf from His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who went to Lagos State with some members of his Executive Council, to commiserate with Governor Babatunde Fashola on the demise of his father, Alhaji Ademola Fashola.”
“Death does not know age, gender or political party affiliation. Neither should compassion.”