Govt, lawmaker differ on Patience Rivers visit

[Punch]

THE Rivers State Government and a member of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Evans Bipi, have disagreed over the reception given to the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, during her visit to the state last Friday.

The President's wife was in Port Harcourt, the state capital, to attend Bipi wedding on Saturday; commission an international school; and empower some widows and the less-privileged in the state.

Bipi, who spoke in a telephone interview with The PUNCH, on Tuesday, alleged that Governor Rotimi Amaechi did not receive the Patience at the airport by the time she arrived in the state on Friday.

But the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, dismissed Bipi's claim, saying the lawmaker had no locus standi to comment on how the President's wife was received.

Semenitari said that all measures were put in place to make the visit of Mrs. Jonathan to the state a memorable one.

Bibi claimed that Amaechi refused to provide accommodation for Patience, a development which he said prompted the President's wife to eventually stay in her private residence within the state capital.

Bipi, who represents Ogu Bolo State Constituency, explained that Jonathan's wife felt insecure since the state governor did not visit the airport to receive her.

"The First Lady came to Rivers State on Friday, but the governor did not receive her at the airport and accommodation was not provided for her. When he (Amaechi) did not receive her, is it accommodation that he would provide for her? So, she feels more at home at her residence than staying in the Government House," the lawmaker said.

Explaining that Mrs. Jonathan was still in the state, the lawmaker said she was billed to attend a programme on Wednesday (today) where she would empower over 1,000 widows and the less privileged.



The Punch