First Lady On An Illegal Podium



PATIENCE Jonathan, the First Lady and Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service, a position to which she was promoted last year to national outrage, is in the news again for the wrong reasons.

Having decided to now conduct her public outings with an official podium of “First Lady” complete with the country’s coat of arms and national colours, it seems there is no limit to the odium Nigeria would endure in her hands. For the wife of the President, occupying a ceremonial office that is unknown to Nigeria’s constitution and laws, to use the coat of arms in the manner she does amounts to a desecration of national symbols and disrespect to all Nigerians. This odious practice should be stopped immediately and President Goodluck Jonathan should lead the way as the man who has sworn to abide by the constitution and uphold its tenets. It is bad enough that the First Lady’s deviation from the norm is manifesting in the President’s household, it is doubly sad that he has seen nothing wrong with it. No doubt, Madam Jonathan deserves praise for her tireless efforts at improving the lots of Nigerian women. Her campaigns on the political scene did more a lot to impact on her husband’s political fortunes. She is indeed a force for good. But introducing a seal of her own is a little over border.

[b]It all seemed a joke when, in February, Patience Jonathan, surrounded by her friends and family members, first made her address on a customized podium adorned with the country’s official seal. From all indications, the practice appears to be her new fancy, disrespectful as it is of the country’s sovereignty and cherished ideals. Naturally, the question that has necessarily been provoked is: on what basis could the ‘office’ of the First Lady, unrecognised by the constitution, carry a seal bearing the nation’s coat of arms and the national colours?

This is a joke taken too far and a clear violation of the constitution of Nigeria. It is surprising that this indiscretion escaped the attention and advice of the civil servants or, perhaps, worse still, enjoyed their approval. Whatever the case, this saga is a clear demonstration of how much erosion dignity and professionalism have suffered in the nation’s civil service. Besides, if those who are expected to guide the first wife on the unconstitutionality of her actions failed in their duty, can the President himself claim ignorance of his spouse’s debauchment?
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Notably, this is not the first time Madam Jonathan would be involved in conducts unbecoming of her station as the President’s consort. Her several goofs in public are now well documented in an unedifying diary of her person and position. She often behaves like an all-conquering empress as she takes on governors and elected leaders at the slightest opportunity in ways that embarrass the nation. Sometime in the middle of last year, the Governor of Bayelsa State Seriake Dickson elevated the First Lady to the rank of permanent secretary without a portfolio in the civil service of Bayelsa State, ostensibly in accordance with the constitutional power conferred on him but certainly in total disregard of decency.

On her part, the beneficiary justified her promotion on the point that she had been a teacher in the state, when in reality, she had been away from her job since her husband was elected Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, and up to his ascension of office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. On another occasion, she sent the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Serah Ochekpe, to represent her at a book launch in honour of President Olusegun Obasanjo at the latter’s Presidential Library in Abeokuta.

These episodes bring to the front burner issues of law and ethics in governance, and they constitute avoidable pressures on the polity. The First Lady has no power to commandeer a serving minister to do her bidding. A minister is a servant of the state, appointed by the President, not his wife. That action was a clear violation of sections 147 and 148 of the 1999 Constitution which vests in the President the power to appoint a minister who may be assigned a “responsibility for any business of the Government of the Federation, including the administration of any department of government.” Surely the First Lady’s office does not fall into the category stipulated by the constitution.

Patience Jonathan’s actions are not only too brazen but clearly unconstitutional, an act for which the President could be held accountable. The time has, therefore, come to remind Mr Jonathan that Madam Jonathan has stepped out of bounds, this time adorning her ceremonial station with the seal of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and she must be reined in immediately.

Her action ridicules Nigeria in the comity of nations and President Jonathan needs to demonstrate that he understands the implication of the leadership position he occupies and back it up with corresponding action.

Truly, Nigeria has been unlucky to have many leaders seemingly incapable of appreciating basic ethics of governance even when they are ever so quick to cite precedents for their actions from countries like the United States of America. This, however, is often done dishonestly. The ‘First Lady’ has no place in the constitution and clearly is a ceremonial position from which the lucky spouse is expected to use her personal comportment to enhance her husband’s image. In America where it evolved in the nineteen century, it was manifestly for delivering some public good, especially those involving charity and humanitarian exertion. First Ladies in America never seek to interfere with the President’s job, never dare attempt to usurp the powers of their husbands, let alone drag them to the dangerous grounds of infringement of the basic laws of the country and the consequent threat of impeachment.

In Nigeria, the impunity now being displayed by those saddled with the responsibility of running the nation’s affairs has rendered the country a fertile ground for breeding the improbable. The Patience Jonathan First Ladyship, in its power grab, is one such absurdity.

First Lady’s status is a moral pulpit from which the highest of values cherished by a nation are expected to be espoused, especially by example. It is no podium for unconstitutional actions, substantive or symbolic.

Source: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125297:first-lady-on-an-illegal-podium&catid=37:editorial&Itemid=612#comments

Should the first lady be allowed to get away with liberties like this?



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Isn't it time her obsequious minders schooled her on the limits of the ceremonial office she occupies?

She is Co-President.

When I opined on a thread that no Nigerian President has ever debased our Presidency the way GEJ is doing and that out sovereignty as a nation is in the wrong hands...I was called names by the people that feel they are having the best of times under GEJ..

Dame runs a parallel government, contemptuous of the constitution and act as though the nation is her fiefdom. Who will call "Madam Lazarus" to order? Is it an husband who doesn't "give a damn"? Members of the hallowed chambers of corruption? Or her handlers, who earn their livelihood by being "political bag-carriers"?

The office of the first lady in the state house(Aso Rock) website is listed as an organ of the FRN, and it is number three in the hierarchy of the organs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
1) The President
2) Vice President
3) Office of the first lady
4) Federal executive council
5) State house
http://nigeriafirst.org/

That means an unconstitutional office of first lady wields more power and influence than the constitutionally recognized, decision-making Federal Executive council. Shamefully, Nigeria is a nation governed by impunity!

If she behaves like this, i just wonder how she treats her husband at home. from the way it is, Jonathan is a weakling.He has no power to control her. I have never heard of such stewpidity from any past first ladies of Nigeria. the earlier Jonathan does something about it, the better for him and the entire nation.

Bad belle

berem: If she behaves like this, i just wonder how she treats her husband at home. from the way it is, Jonathan is a weakling.He has no power to control her. I have never heard of such stewpidity from any past first ladies of Nigeria. the earlier Jonathan does something about it, the better for him and the entire nation.

She is Co-President ala "Office of the First Lady"

payless:


She is Co-President ala "Office of the First Lady"

The 'Office of d 1st lady', though legal was not created by d Constitution and so shld not carry such State insignas. Her handlers shld so advice her...

eGuerrilla: Should the first lady be allowed to get away with liberties like this?



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Isn't it time her obsequious minders schooled her on the limits of the ceremonial office she occupies?

You forget that they all do not "give a damn" what you and me think of their actions.

Why expect better from crass and illiterate husband and wife..?

Aja Jona-Dumbo ti ya digbolugi

This is an affront and insult to the dignity of the Nigeria Federation. If due apology is not tendered by Mrs P or her handlers, the President will be held responsible for not being man enough to control his wife.

Unfortunately, the man can not control the bingo he intentionally unleashes on his perceived enemies. The dullard sent his bingo to Rivers to do what the other dogs like Okugbe and abati do all the time, but this bingo in rapa get the National seal and crest to go with her crass idiocy and show of shame...

payless: She is Co-President.

Co-kini So you have a "cloned" copy of our constitution that makes her so abi

OMG! Cant believe this!

This is a total disrespect and insult to Nigerians.

WELL DAYUMMM

Delirious act of governance i tell ya

she's high off that first lady title

Madam lazarus, the only woman who died 7time

But come to think of it, madam lazarus has always be incharge, Jonathan is just a figurehead.

borinnnnnnnnnn.... *yawns*

Lmao @ that fat pig.

Isn't that a treasonable offence?

You folks should let this woman be for Christ's sake. So what if the office of the first lady is unconstitutional and she uses the nigerian coat of arms as an emblem? Does it change anything? No it doesn't.

I just kinda like this woman!
Our opinions don't seem to affect her one bit

Don't worry the constitution would be modified in earnest !

Well all I'm waiting for is her english o. If she like make she stand for calvary. Just speak the english

This woman is the person ruling this country. She must approve any decision before Retardeen Goodluck acts.

J12: You folks should let this woman be for Christ's sake. So what if the office of the first lady is unconstitutional and she uses the nigerian coat of arms as an emblem? Does it change anything? No it doesn't.

Did you read what you wrote?

And do you understand what the coat of arms of a country signifies?

Most of you are just too ret.arded and shallow-minded - hence why your country is a cesspit!!

If you don't care about your national pride/symbol; what else are you going to care about?

False representation should be a treasonable offence!!