http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/first-lady-patience-jonathan-disses-protocol-independence-day-anniversary

Posted: October 2, 2010 - 02:35

Patience, wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, on Friday demonstrated utter disrespect for her husband and the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the 50th anniversary parade in Abuja.

Our correspondent at the ceremony reported that Patience, dressed in a white blouse, a white skirt and a green head gear, refused to rise up in respect for the president who was returning to his seat after decorating the army, navy, airforce and police chiefs with commemorative badges, and letting off of pigeons as a sign of peace.

As the president approached his seat on the VIP stand, Vice President Namadi Sambo and his wife, Amina, who were seated right of Jonathan rose in respect as demanded by protocol.

Other dignitaries, including former heads of state, visiting heads of states from other African countries, elder statesmen, top government functionaries among others, also rose in reverence to the leader of Africa's most populous country.

But the president's wife refused to rise for her husband. She simply looked away and remained glued to her seat.

She again breached protocol shortly afterward, when, after the ceremony, she stood by her husband's side to greet dignitaries who were filing past. Each dignitary was to greet and shake hands with the president and her.

However, at a point, Mrs. Jonathan soon got into a spirited and long discussion with an unidentified woman, and dignitaries who filed past her husband were not able to greet her. One of those who could not greet her was Muhammadu Buhari, a former head of state.


Before Patience breached protocol, the ceremony, for which the Nigerian government blew a princely N17 billion, had progressed without hitch. There were military parades, reviewed by the president, as well as a march and calisthenic display by school children. There armed forces also displayed their equipment to demonstrate their combat readiness.

Jonathan had earlier on Friday addressed the nation during which he admitted that successive governments had failed to deliver the dividends of independence to Nigerians.

"Our independence was gained by men and women who envisioned a land of freedom and one of opportunity. Our founding fathers sought a government of character, that seeks justice to her citizens as our national anthem so eloquently describes: One Nation Bound in Freedom, Peace and Unity. However, today, the opinion of many Nigerians is that these dreams and expectations have not been fulfilled," the president said in a radio and television broadcast.

"Not only have people despaired about the slow pace of progress, some have in fact given up on the country. Some believe that if the colonial masters had stayed longer, Nigeria may have been the better for it. All these postulations, we must admit, are borne out of a somewhat justifiable sense of frustration. Our troubles and failures are well catalogued. For a country that was, in terms of development, on a similar, if not better level with many countries at independence, it is discomforting that we are lagging behind as the economic indicators among nations now show."

He however blamed the country's backwardness on the civil war and military interventions in the nation's politics.

Why is saharareport stalking mrs Goodluck?
What do they have against her? This is getting ridiculous.
My respect for saharareport is beginning to ebb.

I wonder o-.

Let them kill Jonathan and his wife, then Naija will become paradise- it seems Jonathan and his wife are the primary problems in Nigeria now, well, judging from SR and NL.

Though sahara report sound biase atimes, this report was actually cos i watched every thing live on NTA, our first lady doesnt have the carriage of a firstlady, very embarrasing but manageable

Bush woman, lol
Anyway, of all that happened at the event, why is it that it's only this one SR reporter saw.

Are you sure you are not the bush man? Since you are so educated, weren't you taught she is not supposed to stand up for her husband since we are all going the western way. A case of pot calling kettle black