DESPITE strong public reaction to the appointment, Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson went ahead on Friday to swear-in Nigeria’s first lady Patience Jonathan as a permanent secretary in the state cabinet, insisting that the appointment was justified.
Mrs. Jonathan’s position as a member of the state cabinet is yet to be revealed by Governor Dickson, even as he faces mounting criticism for the appointment, especially from opposition politicians in the state. Governor Dickson announced that the first lady’s position in the state cabinet will be announced at a later date.
The state chapter of the Conference of the Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, responded to the development through its chairman, Frank Oputu, by saying that the “appointment (is) greased with the oil of corruption,” questioning the qualification of Mrs. Jonathan for the position by virtue of her alleged position within the Bayelsa State civil service.
The first lady, who was present at Friday’s swearing-in at the state capital of Yenagoa, accepted the promotion which automatically makes her eligible for the position of a permanent secretary in the state, citing the exposure and the role that her position as first lady affords her as worthy of the elevation.
Questioning why there was so much criticism of her appointment, Mrs. Jonathan pointed out that she has always been a civil servant before she met her husband who later emerged as president and commander-in-chief. According to the first lady, she was last promoted 13 years ago as an employee of the state.
The first lady worked as a teacher before she was transferred to the state ministry of education.