Jonathan’s wife denies plans to install govs

First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan has denied that she has plans to install any state governors in the next general elections.

Mrs. Jonathan in a statement yesterday by her spokesperson, Ayo Adewuyi, was reacting to a media report that suggested that she was positioning some candidates to take over from the incumbent governors of Rivers, Bauchi and Bayelsa States.

According to her, the report is an attempt to pitch those candidates against the governors.

The first lady also denied meddling in the affairs and selection process of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

She, however, noted that she had not withdrawn her support for the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, who was aspiring to become Rivers State governor in 2015.

The statement said: “In the case of Rivers State, the first lady wishes to state categorically that the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike is the leader of PDP in Rivers State and he enjoys the followership of the people of the State. The first lady is solidly behind Chief Wike.”

“Mrs. Jonathan has not withdrawn her support for Chief Wike at any time and will always work for the interest and the good of Rivers people. As far as the First Lady is concerned, there is no shaking in Rivers State,” it said.

She said Dr. Waripomowei Dudafa is not only a son to the President but his staff and very close to the family. “Dr. Dudafa is not ready to quit his job to contest governorship election,” she claimed.

Similarly, she said the FCT Minister has been a competent and loyal appointee of Mr. President. “Both of them are loyal to Mr. President and their governors. They are sons of the first lady as the mother of the nation, who also has very cordial relationships with the governors in question and will never interfere in any process that will lead to the emergence of governorship candidates in the states.”