Abubakar Tsav, Others Kick Against Appointment Of First lady As Permanent Secretary

CRITICISMS have continued to trail the appointment of the First Lady, Daame Patience Jonathan as Permanent Secretary by the Bayelsa State Government with the former Lagos State Commission Abubakar Tsav and other critics in Benue State, describing it as the height of abuse of power, greedy and crass corruption.

Tsav wonders how President Jonathan would pretend to be fighting corruption when he tolerates and indirectly benefits from dishonest acts. “To the best of my knowledge, Patience Jonathan was not even up to the level of a deputy director in the civil service even as she has not been on her duty post as a civil servant in Bayelsa for many years; performing unlawful duties of first lady. It’s share greed and nepotism,’’ said Tsav.

He further noted that this is the first time in the history of Njgeria that we are hearing of such brazen acts of impunity and greed by the first family.

While the foormer chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, Makurdi chapter, Mr. Zuanah  Donathus wonders how Mrs. Jonathan would combine her role as first lady with that of permanent secretary, which is equally challenges. Dzuanah further said the appointment may be legal but morally wrong and unjustifiable.

A woman activist in the state, Mrs. Josephine Akaazua urged Mrs. Jonathan not to drag her name in the mould by accepting the purported appointment but to wait and take it at the appropriate time.

Mrs. Akaazua maintained that the office of the first lady of Nigeria has enormous duties to perform and should be allowed to focus on assisting Mr. President in tackling the challenges of governance confronting the nation.