Following the April 2007 general elections and the subsequent swearing-in ceremonies, key players in the new administration are beginning to emerge. Public functionaries therefore, at all levels, are viewed with great expectations and caution has become the catchphrase for most of them. When it concerns the Nigerian woman, the public eye goes even beyond cautiousness. It therefore extends to even her comportment, decorum, virtues, challenges of accountability, integrity and leadership in nation-building among other godly qualities that make up the woman person vis-à-vis her roles as a leader.

It is in the above light that Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan comes to play. A woman whose upbringing was anchored on her devoted Anglican parents. They cared so much for their children’s moral conduct, gave close monitoring and also guided them a lot.

Imbibing the good nurture of her mother who hails from the South East, Dame Jonathan has always coordinated herself with a high sense of self-preservation. Many have identified with her simple nature. Caring, kind, a wife in every sense of it, a good woman, Dame Jonathan is loyal to her husband and respects her status as the number two lady of the federation. She represents the image of the new Nigerian woman: she is one who has proved many times that she is a symbol of motherhood and a role model to many Nigerian women. A true daughter of the Okrikans, Rivers State and married to a Bayelsan, she understands and speaks a number of Nigerian languages and is familiar with the terrain of many parts of country.

Dame Jonathan has exercised great respect for the position she finds herself and that of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua. In fact, the relationship between both women has been mutually cordial and characterized by loyalty and commitment to making the polity peaceful for smooth governance. They have shown a great deal of purposeful women leadership which is something to be commended. It is worthy of mention that so far, Mrs. Jonathan’s attitude is such that fully recognizes the authority of the First Lady and she has said that so long as the Nigerian women are concerned, “there can only be one leader and that is the wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua”.

The likes of Mrs. Jonathan are a statement that if only women could focus, money is not all; love, life and belief in God are. And that is the overriding principle guiding Mrs. Jonathan who has exhibited a high sense of simplicity, humility and love for humanity and as such has endeared herself into the hearts of many Nigerian women. She is down-to-earth and has shown herself as one with the fear of God and also with a likeable personality. People like this are hard to come by and when one is discovered should be celebrated.

A popular saying in this our part of Africa has it that ‘the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach’. This dictum did not just emerge from nowhere. It is a verity, tried and tested and should be upheld by every woman. This is one area she takes seriously. Her very busy schedule, it is learnt, never deters her from personally preparing her husband’s meals, a practice she admonishes younger women to embrace. Many laud her leading role as a wife in this respect.

Her contributions to building homes, enabling strong family ties and nation-building should be glorified and aligned with the Nigerian woman and her achievements which can be traced from the success of many notable women who have proven their worth in government and the private sector.

A knight of the Anglican faith. To her, knowing God is the central purpose of life and gives a reason for how victorious and fruitful a true Christian life should be. No wonder she adheres strictly to the injunctions of Jesus Christ which ask us to “seek first the kingdom of God and all other things shall be added unto us”. It makes her ponder: if there is anything in which she has failed to put God first, or if her decisions have been made after her own wisdom and desires, rather than seeking and following God’s will and if  any of the following interfere with her surrender and service to God – pleasures, loved ones, friendships, desire for recognition or money.

A teacher by training, Dame Jonathan believes in education and is also versed in bilateral relations as depicted in her views at a faith-based gathering in a foreign land: “I believe that we (both countries) should agree more in the area of academic activity in science and technology. This will further strengthen relations between us and deepen our friendship”.

However, human nature has revealed that people may not always be what they seem. With unsuccessful attempts to blow up the house of the couple the general feelers have hinged on what crime they must have committed to warrant such threats to their lives. Recently also, some persons have been launching series of attacks on the Jonathans through the pages of newspapers. Many concerned Nigerians have expressed dismay at such bizarre acts. Despite all the attacks, the family of Dr. Goodluck & Dame Patience Jonathan has remained focused, peace-loving and progressive-minded. This instructs that when God elevates anybody, nobody can bring such person(s) down. The Jonathans have indeed been lucky and it is all because of God.

Quite unlike many others who find themselves in top positions and affluence, this great lady is never deterred from being focused and does not involve in any form of indulgence. It points to so many things especially to the fact that no matter what happens to an individual, s/he still has the ability to choose to excel. She is one woman worthy of our admiration. May the blessings of our heavenly father abound in her life as she diligently works under and follows the good lead of our dear First Lady.

Robot  Villager

# 1 Dame Jonathan has exercised great respect for the pos...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 16.11.2007 04:51

i-go-better  Villager

# 2 Difficult to make head or tail of what this writer is all about, somebody help me. I thought it was EFCC who accused her of money laundering etc. Posted by i-go-better| 16.11.2007 07:22

i-go-better  Villager

# 3 Quote "It is worthy of mention that so far, Mrs. Jonathan’s attitude is such that fully recognizes the authority of the First Lady and she has said that so long as the Nigerian women are concerned, “there can only be one leader and that is the wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua”. End Quote That quote if it actually came from her is very curious indeed. If she really said that then Mrs Yar'Adua watch your back! Posted by i-go-better| 16.11.2007 07:30

Dove  Villager

# 4 Huh! Articles like this make me wanna throw up.What conerns me if the VP's wife prepares her husband's meal or starves him to death?What a complete waste of time? I thought this writer was out to explain all the issues of corruption this Mrs. Jonathan was accused of? :confused::confused::confused: Posted by Dove| 16.11.2007 08:09

Sonala Olumhense  JJC

# 5 Guilty! Guilty! Guilty! I am one of those referred to in Mr. Marshall Ifeanyi's (or is that Ifeanyi Marshall?) article. I am happy that word is emerging from someone so close to the Jonathans about their character. Hopefully, Mr. Ifeanyi will comment directly on these facts: In August 2006, Mrs. Jonathan was indicted by the EFCC on money-laundering charges. The funds involved, over N104 million, was frozen by an Abuja court. Weeks later, the same EFCC seized from Mrs. Jonathan the sum of $13.5 million. Why is nobody saying that I made these up? Why is nobody taking me to court? I have not said Mrs. Jonathan does not cook for her husband. I have not said she is not a Christian. I have not said she does not know how to make speeches abroad. I have not said she does not get along with Mrs. Yar'Adua. And I certainly do not hate Mrs Jonathan or her husband. But I love the truth and my country more than I love either of them. In the interest of truth and country, let Mr. Ifeanyi and anyone else contradicting the facts above do so directly. In my trade, facts are sacred. If Mr. Ifeanyi does not get back to NVS with authoritative rebuttal of these claims, it would be safe to say we are whom we think he is. Mr. Ifeanyi would also be proof of how impossible it is to wrestle with the truth. Posted by Sonala Olumhense| 16.11.2007 10:07

yashuaib1  Villager

# 6 I think the writer is trying to justify something which we dont know. Or to appeal for understanding and concern for the woman who have been incessantly attack lately even though she has of late remained conservative attending to religious program or representing her Oga (Jonathan/Turai?). I had an impression about her but this writing though seemingly syco.... gives me a reason to rethink at least for a moment. Marshal's writing don de change:wink::lol: Posted by yashuaib1| 16.11.2007 10:32

JAGA-JAGA  Villager

# 7 A knight of the Anglican faith. To her, knowing God is the central purpose of life and gives a reason for how victorious and fruitful a true Christian life should be. No wonder she adheres strictly to the injunctions of Jesus Christ which ask us to “seek first the kingdom of God and all other things shall be added unto us”. It makes her ponder: if there is anything in which she has failed to put God first, or if her decisions have been made after her own wisdom and desires, rather than seeking and following God’s will and if any of the following interfere with her surrender and service to God – pleasures, loved ones, friendships, desire for recognition or money. Mr Ifeanyi, A point of correction with that biblical quotation by Christ. You should not belong to the false prophets and pastors who distort the bible quotation in order to curry favour from human beings. That quoation goes like this " Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and other things shall be added unto you". The key word there is righteousness which many of you tend to remove in order to appeal to the world. This is so as many do not fulfil the requirements of rigthteousness including my very humble self. Coming to the issue of your article on Mrs. Jonathan, are you now a mercenary writer for her? What business do you have to be an advocate for this lady? If you would indeed be an advocate for her you should channel it properly and the rght place is before EFCC not this forum. It was the EFCC that originated the accusation and this forum only drew inferences from the EFCC as the key source. Don't you have something important to channel your God given talent to? Do you want to spend your time defending one with reprobate mind? Marshall, I would have been harsher on you but having read some of your past articles, I'm constrained to give you a benefit to change this new found love. Posted by JAGA-JAGA| 16.11.2007 10:44

udokaamah  Villager

# 8 I have never read anything more nonsensical. Posted by udokaamah| 16.11.2007 16:02

fxo  Villager

# 9 And what is this idea that Mrs Yar Adua is the leader of Nigerian woman. Is that the way the women feel? Can we hear from the ladies please. Posted by fxo| 16.11.2007 23:49

fxo  Villager

# 10 A good woman------Questionable A good cook---------Who cares, I don't see her soup kitchen feeding the homeless in Lagos. A good Christian------I don't think so, the bible is awash with things her well publicized lifestyle does not conform with. A good wife-----------How do you know, attributes of a good wife as follows ( Parenting skill...she is not your mother, Management abilities.... no tangible experience to speak of, a good cook.....as stated above, Good in XXX....only Goodluck would know that, or do you?) What do we independently know of her. Tyrant ....Yes Corrupt....Yes Petty........Yes You sir have not disproved any of this. So you probably have to return the retainer her publicist paid you. 'Cause you have not delivered. Posted by fxo| 17.11.2007 00:04

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