The wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience Jonathan has made it clear that her husband would remain in office for eight years to complete his two terms in office.
Dame Patience Jonathan who spoke during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) women rally under the auspices of Women for Change and Development Initiative in Benin, Edo State today, said that the Presidency had been occupied for eight years by other geopolitical zones and wondered why the South-South should be denied the opportunity.
She claimed that the Jonathan-led administration had performed creditably in various sectors such as in transport and education, and by her assessment, the president’s performance had been satisfactory.
Dame Patience described the present administration as a gender-sensitive government, which has prioritised women development through the appointment of several women in key positions, the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme and the YouWin Initiative.
She stressed that re-electing her husband was an opportunity for Nigerian women to appreciate his good performance, adding that the opposition party was not dependable and had nothing to offer.
The President wife was accompanied by national and state leaders of the party. Women, drawn from different support groups across the state turned out for the event as early as 9am.
Some had left the stadium at about 1.30pm when Dame Patience. Jonathan arrived at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, venue of the rally.
Unable to bear the scorching heat, two women fainted but were later revived by a medical team provided by the party.
A mild drama ensued shortly before the President wife’s address when two men, said to be aggrieved PDP youths, tore down some banners bearing the image of the President’s wife.
They were, however, whisked away by some security operatives at the venue. [myad]
