Recalled that on Thursday, a damning report was published on the front page of a popular newspaper with the title “First Lady Threatens PDP Governors Over Tukur.” First Lady, Patience Jonathan, has reacted to the report, describing it as campaign of calumny against her. The first lady through her spokesperson,  Mrs Ayo Adesugba, said it was unfortunate that at a time “when all men and women of God are striving hard to share love and promote peace as a sign of the coming of the Prince of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ, some individuals are doing the opposite.” She said the report made reference to an unnamed source which purported that the First Lady, Dame (Dr) Patience Jonathan, met with some Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urging them to support Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the PDP National Chairman, to retain his position.

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The said article had narrated how Dame Jonathan discussed with the Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada, the Akwa Ibom Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, and the Abia State Governor, Dr. Theodore Orji on the same matter.

But the office urged members of the Forth Estate of the Realm to be more mature in reporting and adhere to the basic ethics of journalism by being fair, factual and balanced.

According to the statement, “The article made reference to a vague source with no name. No reporter approached the First Lady or her office for comments or at least to ascertain the veracity of the story. In that respect, the story was not balanced.

“The language used in the report cannot be called fair. In fact, it should draw consternation from all well meaning individuals as being uncharitable. Words like “haranguing the party’s governors” and “Threatens PDP Governors” are not only untrue but capable of causing disaffection and portraying the First Lady in a bad light.

“We wish to restate that the First Lady, like any other Nigerian is guaranteed the freedom of expression and freedom of association as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. The First Lady has always exercised this basic right maturely and patriotically by advocating peace, tolerance and dialogue as demonstrated in all her public speeches and statements.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it must be stated clearly that the First Lady has never harangued or threatened anyone, needless to say, serving governors.”

The statement said in continuation of her efforts towards a peaceful nation, Mrs Jonathan, last Tuesday led a National Women Fasting and Prayer for Peace and Unity in Nigeria event in Abuja.

It recalled that Christian and Muslim women came together as agents of peace, carrying olive branches, “beseeching the Lord to uphold the peace and unity of Nigeria; peace in all the political parties; peace in the National Assembly and peace in the Presidency, as only peace and unity can move our nation, Nigeria forward.”

The spokesperson added that “Nobody should, under any guise, use the name of the First Lady to cause division or discord in the nation as she has committed herself to fasting and praying for the peace and unity of Nigeria.”


“The First Lady will continue fasting until we achieve unity and peace in our Fatherland,” it concluded.