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12 Things You Didn’t Know About Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan

12 Things You Didn’t Know About Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan

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Nigeria’s first lady, Patience Jonathan, has been a powerful voice throughout her husband’s presidency, and has been hard at work this campaign season for his reelection. She has been in several public service positions herself, and managed to rack up her fair share of controversy in the world of Nigerian politics. Here are 12 things you didn’t know about Patience Jonathan.

Sources: StarAfrica.com, PremiumTimesNG.com, Africa-Confidential.com, PunchNG.com, LindaIkeji.Blogspot.com

ChannelsTV.com
ChannelsTV.com

She has several degrees in biology

After passing the West African School Certificate Examination in 1980, she went on to obtain her National Certificate of Edcuation in mathematics and biology from the Rivers State College of Arts and Science in Port Harcourt. Later, she went to the University of Port Harcourt and earned her Bachelor’s of Education in biology and psychology.

Wikimedia.org
Wikimedia.org

Jonathan began her career as a teacher

After her studies in education, Jonathan worked as a teacher at the Stella Maris College in Port Harcourt, and later at the Sports Institute Isake. After a stint in banking, she returned briefly to teaching before moving to a position in the Ministry of Education.

TheNet.ng
TheNet.ng

She helped establish the first community bank in Port Harcourt

In 1997, Jonathan left teaching and moved into the banking center, where she established the first community bank in Port Harcourt, known as the Akpo Community Bank. She went on to serve as marketing manager of another bank, Imiete Community Bank, before briefly returning to teaching.

Ekekeee.com
Ekekeee.com

Her appointment as permanent secretary in Bayelsa state caused national outrage

With her husband’s appointment as deputy governor, she left the Ministry of Education in 1999 and 13 years passed before Patience returned to a civil service position. When she did, it was as permanent secretary in Bayelsa state. She was appointed governor by Henry Seriake Dickson, who gained his own position thanks to the help of then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. Nigerians were outraged, seeing the appointment as a clear example of favoritism and Patience as entirely unqualified to the position.

BellaNaija.com
BellaNaija.com

She stirred up controversy by seeking medical care in Germany, rather than at home in Nigeria

In September 2012, Patience was hospitalized in Germany for a severe case of food poisoning. Initially, her office said she had sought medical attention in Nigeria and was in Germany for unrelated reasons, but the real story emerged days later. Jonathan, and the rest of the presidential family, were railed against for using their position to avoid the notoriously low quality healthcare available in Nigeria.

AfrikanGoddessMag.com
AfrikanGoddessMag.com

Patience has received awards for her humanitarian work

In 2008, Patience was awarded the “Beyond the Tears” International Humanitarian Award in New York for her work against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and globally. She also received the African Goodwill Ambassador Award and the Wind of Change Award from the South Women’s Organization. She is known for her commitment to organizations that help empower impoverished women and youth, as well as provide better health services across Nigeria.

DoyNews.com
DoyNews.com

The ICC is examining her role in inciting violence in Nigeria

The major opposition party in Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress, petitioned the International Criminal Court to prosecute the first lady for making comments it said might incite violence. The court has begun the process of an investigation into the matter, and may question her and others in coming months.

DailyPost.ng
DailyPost.ng

She has been accused of insulting northerners, even during campaigning

Despite the fact that Northern Nigeria remains critical for the presidential election, Patience allegedly insulted those living in the north, referring to them as “an enclave of beggars and unwanted children.” Patience denied the accusation, and claimed the insult came from another source: the wife of the APC presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha Buhari.

Source: PremiumTimesNG.com

Cheddahville.com
Cheddahville.com

Jonathan was also accused of taking bribes

The governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, accused Jonathan of taking bribes from his opponent, the PDP-sponsored candidate, Nyesom Wike. In a praise and worship session in Isiokpo on March 21, he said, “Do you know that the PDP governorship candidate, Nyesome Wike, has been giving 1 million dollars monthly to the wife of the president, Mrs. Patience Jonathan? He has been doing this to gain political favor in the presidency and to retain the favor.” Patience denied the accusations, calling them “laughable.”

Source: LinkdaIkeji.Blogspot.com

Punch.ng
Punch.ng

She has said she will not play “politics of bitterness”

Despite the outcome of Saturday’s election, Patience said she will not play politics when it comes to peace in Nigeria. In a speech at the National Muslim Women’s town hall meeting, she said, “Politics come and go but Nigeria remains an indivisible entity which no one can play politics with. I won’t play politics of bitterness with anyone because as you see Hajia Aisha Buhari is my sister and we will still be together after election.”

Source: Naij.com

NigerianMasterweb.com
NigerianMasterweb.com

Jonathan has told voters that a vote for Buhari is a vote for sending people to prison

In campaigning for her husband, Jonathan has not shied away from strong words, despite her talk of Nigeria being indivisible. At a PDP rally in Akure on March 24, she said that a vote for Buhari equals a vote to send Nigerians to prison, as he will always remain a dictator, regardless of how he is portrayed on the campaign trail.

RoyalTimes.net
RoyalTimes.net

She has encouraged voters to “protect” their votes

Some Nigerians were concerned that after they cast their votes and left the polling stations, opposition supporters would attempt to manipulate the ballots. Disregarding the police directive that people should leave the polling units after casting to avoid citizens taking the law into their own hands, Patience appealed to Nigerians, saying, “After voting on March 28, make sure you follow your votes to the end. Do not leave the arena until the counting ends. Vote wisely, you must vote according to your conscience.”

Source: PremiumTimesNG.com