Dame Patience Jonathan's Umblerra--a must see

[First-lady]

I hope this woman doesn't cost GEJ the election
This is pathetic


If the president reads this,please sir,send this woman to school immediately.
It's not proper that you hold a PhD and our first lady in 2011, from a southern state sounds like an illiterate woman selling ice fish at mile one Diobu market.
I personally wouldn't want to hear that voice for 4 years championing any causes when it's obvious that the first thing she needs to do is enroll in some school,substitute it with intensive private lessons and learn the proper way to speak in public including simple pronunciation of words, elementary school grammar and parts of speech.She is not representative of the women in Nigeria.
Her office includes all sorts of aides and advisers,why not an English and speaking coach or two,she needed it yesterday.
In the event that this is unattainable,let her like the Corinthian women,be silent.

[I Love Nigeria]

FirstLady Gba break biko!

You remind me of a widely held belief to the effect that women are harsher on fellow women!

Why do you always pepper Mrs. Jonathan? First Ladies have no constitutional or statutory roles... no matter how eloquent or inelegant such First Ladies might be.... Is Mrs. Jonathan in charge of the Power sector (NEPA-PHCN)? Is she in charge of the Nigerian Stock Exchange? Does she determine or have any effect on the value of our national currency the Naira?

The fixation on Mrs. Turai YarAdua was wasted or squandered time!

[Big-K]

Patience Goodluck FaceBook Dameguistics Grammar Day Protest

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=194197037281575

______________

Who knows- she may be making a real connection with millions of oppressed women, who have been looking for someone to speak their language. Right, ILN?

Presidency - Umblerra
Governor- Umblerra
Coucillor - Umblerra
Senator - Umblerra
House of reps - umblerra
Local Govt - Umblerra

[M. Akosa]

Patience Goodluck FaceBook Dameguistics Grammar Day Protest

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=194197037281575

______________

Who knows- she may be making a real connection with millions of oppressed women, who have been looking for someone to speak their language. Right, ILN?

Presidency - Umblerra
Governor- Umblerra
Coucillor - Umblerra
Senator - Umblerra
House of reps - umblerra
Local Govt - Umblerra

Baba Big K,

You forgot sumtin oh !

Shiarmen - Umblerra


Carry go jor ! Madam Ebele.

[M. Akosa]

Aa..aah begi FL.

Cool down. The women get message and she dey...very loaded. Oke Mmanwu....Ototo !

I have been hearing speeches, but anything this woman says, will always easily register inside your head forever.
Is she not talented for that one alone ?

[I Love Nigeria]

There is not wrong in campaigning in Nigerian local languages... or pidgin English or in Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba or Tiv or Urhobo, or Fulani-Fulfulde or Esan, Idoma, Igbilla etc, you get the idea? Making the connection and communicating is the essence of campaign (commercial or political campaigns)!

Big K wrote

Who knows- she may be making a real connection with millions of oppressed women, who have been looking for someone to speak their language. Right, ILN?

1. Well, I think you may have a point there, even if sarcasm is your intent... after all, a majority of Nigerian women, do speak differently than she does... it is therefore rather elitist to insist that the First Lady speaks like a New York City television broadcaster-anchor.

The proper question to ask perhaps, is whether Mrs. Jonathan is an effective communicator in her interactions with Nigerian women, and men? Who is her target audience?

2. Most importantly, the First Lady position is not constitutional or statutory, whether in Nigeria or in the United States, so, the fixation on Mrs. Jonathan is just unnecessary.

3. I am more concerned that none of the registered 62 or more political parties in Nigeria, and their presidential candidates are discussing the fate our grossly undervalued national currency the Naira

4 PDP/ACN, CPC, ANPP are not discussing unemployment, including graduate unemployment which is over 20 years old as a phenomenon . How about kidnapping, safety and security? Clean water, electricity, getting rid of mosquitoes the malaria distributors in Nigeria

The political candidates/parties are coasting towards the elections, taking the electorate and public for granted

AND some are here fixated on the "accent" and her "common-touch"

Too bad she is not talking down to Nigerians with British or American accent? Please! (I hear from WikiLeaks that speaker Dimeji Bankole, that flippant Briton, speaks with a foreign accent and some Nigerians LOVE that?

[I Love Nigeria]

One more thing, First Ladies have no constitutional or statutory roles, no portfolios! (Neither Turai YarAdua, Patience Jonathan or Michelle Obama)!

What constitutional or statutory sections of national laws in Nigeria and the United States allocates power/portfolio to First Ladies? Are we nations of law or sentiments?

First Ladies roles are only a matter of convention/tradition/protocol

[First-lady]

Aa..aah begi FL.

Cool down. The women get message and she dey...very loaded. Oke Mmanwu....Ototo !

I have been hearing speeches, but anything this woman says, will always easily register inside your head forever.
Is she not talented for that one alone ?

I may dream of a dozen umblerras tonite
I love the musical one
lol

[anwulika]

LWKMD!! I will never look at an umbrella the same way again. Thank you First Lady and First Lady.

PS: What is with the sing-song voice??

[shinycoin]

According to ILN:

There is not wrong in campaigning in Nigerian local languages... or pidgin English or in Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba or Tiv or Urhobo, or Fulani-Fulfulde or Esan, Idoma, Igbilla etc, you get the idea? Making the connection and communicating is the essence of campaign (commercial or political campaigns)!

there is just one major flaw with your argument oga ILN;

First Lady Jonathan may one day get to represent Nigeria on some international fora and if this is the only way she knows how to communicate, then we as a nation will further become the subject of mockery in the committee of nations.

Granted she has no official roles or titles, but she still is seen as the face of Nigeria and is therefore a good-will ambassador for her husband and his govt, and that is why Michelle Obama and Karla Bruno (did i spell that right?...lol) of France have a large entourage of press and attendants wherever they go, nationally and internationally.. their wardrobes and whatever causes they favour get instant recognition and media scrutiny, it comes with the territory.

Dame Jonathan may connect with the local population in Nigeria, but her audience goes far, far, far beyond the local Nigerian women on the street. Like it or not, constitutional or not, she is an international figure by virtue of her marriage to and association with, the Nigerian president.

The way she speaks and communicates is a disgrace and she needs an instant make over to adequately represent the Nigerian people in whatever fora she finds herself, national and international.

[Beam]

In this instance she was addressing people who seem to understand what she meant which was all the squares with an umbrella was what they need to tick or stamp. I have read her English was not the best, however listening to it makes me feel she really needs a bit of polishing up, just incase her husband does host other presidents and their wives it would be terrible if she speaks and sounds like she does at present. I read some where she was a teacher it makes me question who she taught? and what subject for that matter.

It surely has left me thinking of Umbierra

[Abraxas]

Hi, folks!

It never ceases to amaze me that, Dame Patience Jonathan (JP), despite her unmistakeable educational challenges and deficit in social skills, continues to epitomize the unacceptable face of women in politics in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with the full connivance of a formidable retinue of better educated WOMEN hangers-on, in the corridors of Aso Rock Villa, Asokoro, Abuja!

This is a wake up call to Nigerian women worldwide: It makes no sense for Nigerian women to clamore for affirmative action, and rant about gender mainstreaming, when their female elite are just as corrupt, profligate, and reactionary as their male counterparts, (and/or spouses)!

One can imagine the unnecessary strains and stresses that exist among various female politicians and public figures across Nigeria, based on a laugable power matrix of intrigue manoevres built around Dame Umbrella Patience Jonathan, or any other "First Lady" for that matter!!!

I believe it is high time Nigerians specifically ask Dr. Goodluck Ebiebele Azikiwe Jonathan (GCON; GCFR) the question: Is Dame Patience not a liability to his political fortunes?? If not, then, let him provide clarifications for Nigerians that she is not a liability to Nigerians!! .... If not ....

Muchas gracias.

Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III)

[I Love Nigeria]

The comments here are soooo laughable!

Why is it that some of you wish that Nigerian woman sound like Aisha Ayeesha Sesay with her overplayed and overdone British accent?

Mrs. Patience Jonathan did not stand for election and she is not an appointee requiring confirmation by the National Assembly of Nigeria

Some of you guys here sound as if Mrs. Patience Jonathan need to pass an interview on public speaking, intonations, phonetics and pronunciations before she became First Lady upon her husband being elected?

So now, let us stipulate that we shall change the constitution of Nigeria, to reflect the sundry desires expressed here, that future First Ladies in Nigeria must possess advanced college degree and must have a prescribed accent, preferably British or American accent... and that she must be an acclaimed expert in public speaking?

PS, umbrella is the icon or logo of PDP and broom is the icon or logo of ACN What exactly then, is wrong with members of various political parties explaining symbols, icons and logos of political parties to the public .... public enlightenment on how to vote and what symbols to identify with particular candidate and party? We Nigerians are too "sophisticated" for own good!

What is the essence of communication? The target audience must understand the intent and message-objective of the speaker... does Mrs. Jonathan's audience know the symbol, icon or logo of PDP as she described it? Was Mrs. Jonathan addressing college students and Youth Corpers? Was she at a law school, medical school giving lectures? Please!

Elect Nigerian/African women to public offices... as governors, presidents, prime ministers ... and not First Ladies as some sorts of proxies or substitutes for women in leadership

[agensheku]

FirstLady Gba break biko!

You remind me of a widely held belief to the effect that women are harsher on fellow women!

Why do you always pepper Mrs. Jonathan? First Ladies have no constitutional or statutory roles... no matter how eloquent or inelegant such First Ladies might be.... Is Mrs. Jonathan in charge of the Power sector (NEPA-PHCN)? Is she in charge of the Nigerian Stock Exchange? Does she determine or have any effect on the value of our national currency the Naira?

The fixation on Mrs. Turai YarAdua was wasted or squandered time!

One of my little grandkids drew our attention to the speaker when she said: "Who is this woman calling umbrella...umbllera!"

Everybody became more attentive and of course,seeing it is "Madam Bombastic" herself,we only had a little laugh,but saved GEJ the embarrassment by not telling the 3-year old the speaker s status.

Na by force to parade one s wife,even when she lacks the communication skills to be so paraded?President Shehu Shagari,according to tatafos had six wives during his tenure.All of them were safely locked away in purdah and nobody knew if they spoke good english or jargon when they "serviced" him in the palace.

Megida tried to parade Turai and she even led a Nija delegation to a nuclear conference abroad!Within a short time,she proved herself as a bombardier in spoken english. Na wetin?!We are now in the internet age and if shame no catch the hubby,shame dey catch us o!

Nigeria produced its first female SAN over 30 years ago. Our women are shining stars all over the world...why do we have to stick our "sore thumb" out and what point are we proving? Marriage is forever,nobody can change the Landlord s partner but she should stay home and mind the Landlord o!UMBLLERA,haba!

[Naijax]

It is better for people to doubt your English speaking ability, than to open your mouth for all people to confirm their doubt.

[I Love Nigeria]

agensheku

Nigeria produced its first female SAN over 30 years ago. Our women are shining stars all over the world...why do we have to stick our "sore thumb" out and what point are we proving? Marriage is forever,nobody can change the Landlord s partner but she should stay home and mind the Landlord o!UMBLLERA,haba!

There are Nigerian men whose speech pattern are not any different from that of Mrs. Jonathan and they are elected and appointed officials of our governments at various levels...

Is this some sexist thing to focus on the spouses' pronunciations? How about the men and how they pronounce or enunciate?

Our women are shining stars all over the world

yeah, yeah, yeah, go ahead elect! Elect Nigerian women as president vice president...

It bears repeating, the inconvenient truth, the fact that Mrs. Jonathan is not an elected official of our government and she is not an appointee... she is merely a ceremonial First Lady without constitutional or statutory powers. If her husband is happy with her, that is good for me.

[M. Akosa]

According to ILN:



there is just one major flaw with your argument oga ILN;

First Lady Jonathan may one day get to represent Nigeria on some international fora and if this is the only way she knows how to communicate, then we as a nation will further become the subject of mockery in the committee of nations.

Granted she has no official roles or titles, but she still is seen as the face of Nigeria and is therefore a good-will ambassador for her husband and his govt, and that is why Michelle Obama and Karla Bruno (did i spell that right?...lol) of France have a large entourage of press and attendants wherever they go, nationally and internationally.. their wardrobes and whatever causes they favour get instant recognition and media scrutiny, it comes with the territory.

Dame Jonathan may connect with the local population in Nigeria, but her audience goes far, far, far beyond the local Nigerian women on the street. Like it or not, constitutional or not, she is an international figure by virtue of her marriage to and association with, the Nigerian president.

The way she speaks and communicates is a disgrace and she needs an instant make over to adequately represent the Nigerian people in whatever fora she finds herself, national and international.

Nothing spoil there.

If our current President is one of those men that their situation now has become challenging due to their inarticulate choices in marrying their clan sister and family friends, or as our own able First Lady here on NVS says it is"they prefer to marry or not marry their girlfriend or lover too."
Then he can follow the Zuma way.http://blogs.sowetanlive.co.za/weddi...diba/?pid=1618

If Dame Patience cannot handle the audience in Berlin or Budapest, then Funke can be recruited to fill that role. If Funke starts to think that the honey pot is all hers, then contract Zainab or quickly marry Nwanyioma to handle 3 to 5 overseas trips.
By the time you know it, the Baba go don marry reach like 10 times while in the office.
Oily money from niger delta dey flow nyafu nyafu... for Aso Rock, to take deal with the President's excesses or any such challenges.
Shikena !

After all, naa..today Nigerians sabi see nyash for back ? After all, muslims and traditionalist all have excuses and their own explainations for swinging.
We go all understand say dis our president now get some serious (wife issues ) challenges naa.
But not neccesarily inside the bedroom. Haba ?

Btw: I completely agree with ILN here, that any deemed or perceived first lady's handicaps or inadequacies should not be taken into consideration for our choices in electing a leader. First ladies should not be brought into such public domain scrutiny, unless for criminal matters. As they have no statutory power of office or even an effective policy making capacity, other than being an object of decoration or an accessory in the President's office.
Personally for me, since Nuhu Ribadu is not running, I will vote for GEJ. And not neccesarily PDP...umblerra..oh !

There is no perfection in this life, regarding such trivial family issues !

I remember very well in 1992, Bill Clinton's spat and trashing his opponent Jerry Brown for his notorious comments about Hillary. After that event, no one ever again dares bring in an opponent's spouse or trivial family matters into such public scrutiny, ridicule or contempt about suitability for office in America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX6RUe_3nBU

[I Love Nigeria]

Naijax wrote

It is better for people to doubt your English speaking ability, than to open your mouth for all people to confirm their doubt.

I doubt VERY MUCH that the people of Britain fuss, fret and obsess about English the way some Nigerians do

Did the subject communicate effectively with her target audience? (the bulk of women in Nigeria)?
The substance of her message was PDP logo, symbol and icon

Na Grammar we go chop?

Is Mrs. Jonathan our Foreign Minister or Justice Minister?

[agensheku]

agensheku There are Nigerian men whose speech pattern are not any different from that of Mrs. Jonathan and they are elected and appointed officials of our governments at various levels...

Is this some sexist thing to focus on the spouses' pronunciations? How about the men and how they pronounce or enunciate?
yeah, yeah, yeah, go ahead elect! Elect Nigerian women as president vice president...

It bears repeating, the inconvenient truth, the fact that Mrs. Jonathan is not an elected official of our government and she is not an appointee... she is merely a ceremonial First Lady without constitutional or statutory powers. If her husband is happy with her, that is good for me.

If merit were the name of the game,we would get better-packaged items.Mrs Obama was his counsellor way back. There are some lessons to learn from madam umbllera.Even if you marry someone not up to scratch,brush her up.

If GEJ says he as a University don was happy with his pick,then she must be doing "funwontan" for him in the bedroom and no man looks for anything else if he marries a very good "bedminton" athlete!Lol ILN,you must stop making useless excuses for this woman,,,we did not elect her,let her throw her "scud missiles" at Aso Rock kitchen staff.If i hear umbllera again on my telly,i will stop watching NTA news o.

[I Love Nigeria]

agensheku

ILN,you must stop making useless excuses for this woman,

,

No, no, no and Nope!

Nigerians must take presidential and gubernatorial spouses as they find them (male or female spouses are not elected officials) Let us focus on those elected or appointed, they are the ones whose behaviors/conducts, policy formulations/implementations should worry us... they are the ones we must hold to account for actions and inaction.... leave spouses alone.

[Igboamaeze]

------

There's a short and simple way out of this national embarrassment: tuck that Dame away, somewhere.

Public space is just not her place...

[agensheku]

agensheku ,

No, no, no and Nope!

Nigerians must take presidential and gubernatorial spouses as they find them (male or female spouses are not elected officials) Let us focus on those elected or appointed, they are the ones whose behaviors/conducts, policy formulations/implementations should worry us... they are the ones we must hold to account for actions and inaction.... leave spouses alone.

If we did not vote for the spouse,what right has she to throw herself in our face,spraying jargon? Nigeria has been so unfortunate with first ladies.

Stella Obj was preparing for an "owambe" birthday party when she sneaked out of Nija to go do tummy-tuck abroad. She probably ended up on a quack s table as a routine operation made her return home in a body-bag!

One of Atiku s wives is now a fugitive in America. She is wanted for money-laundering related offences.

We still have fresh memories of how Turai ruled us via remote control while her semi-dead Megida was holed up in a mobile morgue!

Here we are now with "Madam Bombastic"! In an election period,if this were in other civilized nations,all these unbecoming minuses take away the husband s pluses and he ends up a loser. But with Professor peller-magician (Obj) behind the curtains,they are already rehearsing victory songs!

By the way,there was a joke about a VIP guest in the seat of power and he was to have lunch of pounded yam and egusi soup.The then woman of the house met their guest and her hubby eating with bare hands,so she asked:

"Do you want FORK or cutlery!"Lol!

Anyway,i hear the husband of the Queen of England too is a poor speaker. Not that he does not understand good english o,but if he goes to greet a woman just delivered of new baby,he could say: "May God forgive the deceased!" So,these days,he is kept indoors to keep his mouth shut.


This phase of Nija life shall pass away one day.

[denker]

ma people:

.....of course there's apparent pointedly observation which embeds markedly obvious inadequacy of firstlady's knowledge of queen's language; that sticks out like a sore thumb!...i must admit, but the question to ask, which to me is paramount: does she convey the message?...after all creative communication is a skill to transport ya product masterfully(no matter the means)....for me she did handle it very well... - between the sender and the receptors there's fluidity. pls, keep in mind the environment and the audience -she was not talking to some of us!

anywaz, while i was thinking dat in naija una dey vote with thumb? she was speaking of using the hand...lol!

[Abraxas]

Hi, folks!

Maybe, as a note of warning to Nigeria's prodigal political elite, Dr. Goodluck Ebiebele Azikiwe Jonathan (GCON; GCFR) should be made to choose between being the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and letting loose his severely cerebrally sub-normal spouse to infest our consciousness with comic reminders of all that is retrograde about the Nigerian condition, as exemplified by the phenomenon of "first-ladyism"!

For sure, if ultimately, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (GCON;GCFR) LOOSES the 2011 presidential elections, it would not be because he is not good enough to be the president. It will be because of the avoidable handicap, negative side-commentary, and nuisance value brought to bear on his political fortunes by his wife, Her Excellency, Dame Patience Jonathan (JP).

POST SCRIPT:

Please also notice that the official praise-singers, ego massage consultants, arsehole hair-licking hangers-ons, "royal fathers", executive image launderers, and senior personal sycophants of Dame (Mrs.) Patience Jonathan now refer to her as "doctor"!!!

Chief Zeburudaiya Okoroigwe Nwogbo (alias 4:30, the palm-wine powerless), where am you, biko kwanu? Where is you??

Muchas gracias.

Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III)

[Ajibs]

Patience Goodluck FaceBook Dameguistics Grammar Day Protest

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=194197037281575

______________

Who knows- she may be making a real connection with millions of oppressed women, who have been looking for someone to speak their language. Right, ILN?

Presidency - Umblerra
Governor- Umblerra
Coucillor - Umblerra
Senator - Umblerra
House of reps - umblerra
Local Govt - Umblerra

Big-K,
For full disclosure. I am afraid to think of this woman giving a speech at say the Council for Foreign Relations, or having her on say Fareed Zakaria, GPS as we see former first ladies like Princess Noor. Or her standing beside the former first lady Hilary Clinton, or current Michelle Obama....Ouch!!

But, having said that, if elected we need to also remember that we elected her husband and NOT her. Furthermore, you might be very very surprised that this woman might be connecting very well with the masses in Nigeria. With her terribly unpolished speak, she looks like one of them. Majority of uneducated and semi educated Nigerians love to communicate in pidgin English, hence this woman's shakabulas might not be a problem for them.

The one STRONG thing that Dr. Goodluck has going for him (and his wife) is that many Nigerians (not we now ajebu.. and "exposed" ones in the diaspora...) see in this man themselves. This man is regarded by many as an everyday man that found his way into politics, power and now at the top. And I found a campaign AD highlighting this recently...



This is one TV ad that I suspect will do this man a great favor in getting votes. Despite the lack of polished speak by his wife.

NAR: Once again in GEJ campaign mode, despite the haters out there...lol

[Sisi Eko]

Her aides have also claimed that she absolutely refuses to read prepared scripts for her speeches . Jonathan is not much better too .

[Dapxin]

Her aides have also claimed that she absolutely refuses to read prepared scripts for her speeches . Jonathan is not much better too .

Are you that aide ? :/running_in_turbo_mode_before_remote_slaps reach me

[Big-K]

...

Maybe this is why EFCC dropped the case against her

... most judges will rather acquit than have umblerra missiles landing in court...

[Sisi Eko]

Are you that aide ? :/running_in_turbo_mode_before_remote_slaps reach me

Did I fire one up there ?

[agensheku]

Buhari to Jonathan: Hold your wife from disturbing peace of Ibadan
News Mar 14, 2011

BY OLA AJAYI

IBADAN � THE Presidential Candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan, to hold back his wife, Mrs. Patience Jonathan from disrupting the peace of Ibadan today.

Reacting to the reported cancellation of his planned campaign rally in Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State today, Buhari said it was contradictory for the President to be preaching peace while his aides and supporters were at the same time fanning the embers of discord.

Buhari spoke in reaction to the cancellation of his booking to use the Mapo Hall for the flag-off of his presidential campaign in Oyo State.

Governor Akala had disallowed the use of the hall because he said the venue had been booked for the wife of the President, Mrs. Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan who is coming to Ibadan tomorrow.

But, the retired military man through Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said the party would resist the alleged latest move by the ruling PDP to muzzle it.

�We ask President Jonathan to hold the leash on his attack dogs as it smacks of hypocrisy for him to be pretending to be calling peace parleys with other presidential candidates while his agents are working against peace,� Buhari said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin yesterday.

He noted that �Nigerians should help us ask if Mrs. Patience Jonathan will ask somebody not to hold a wedding ceremony at an event centre because she intends using the place the following day if she were a private citizen.�

He stressed that �Governor Alao-Akala added a ridiculous dimension to the whole saga when he lied that the hiccup was because we changed our rally date. The attached receipts from Ibadan Local Governments Properties Co. Limited, the official managers of Mapo Hall, showed the date CPC booked Mapo Hall and the subsequent official acceptance of CPC use of Mapo Hall on the new rally date, 14th March 2011.�

Source:www.vanguardngr.com

The President wields enough power already,but when his unelected wife/cronies constitute a roadblock to the opposition,its a recipe for katakata!Lets hope wise counsel prevails.Agens

[M. Akosa]

I think this is a situation where the public have to draw a line on hating. Rather focus on objective / positive criticism of the First Lady.

There are certain things that no amount of money can buy or change. Such as class, intellect and all those social skills required to comfortably handle diverse audiences at different levels.

I do not realistically think that any english language tutorials or coach can help this woman. Even worse, plagiarism and copying others can be of no good to her. This is a position that requires some elements of originality. And to be honest, Dame Patience is just doing fine in her own way so far. She is getting messages across in the most easiest and frank manner. But I must say that the ears of little, impressionable young children needs to be shut off when she is making those bombastic speeches.
Lest they copy her! And we (Nigerians) are left with another generation who will be talking "unblerrra" and "shiarmen" and "pearzident" for many years to come.
And by the way, little children are not the voting audience here, anyway. The bulk of the Nigerians (adult voting population) are semi / functional illiterates, thanks to the IBB regime that ushered in mediocrity and opened the doors of backwardness as ever imagined before in Nigeria.

I mean, if it becomes too challenging for our President now, then when he is elected, he can as well contract Bianca Ojukwu to handle and deal with the sophisticated audience, since her own husband is incapacitated and right now she is working for the Nigerian government for "diaspora matters." What ever that may mean?

I am very sure nothing spoil there.

[Onari]

Grammar! If grammar is Nigerian problem, we could have out classed even the British in every department of human endeavor.

To me Mrs Jonathan do not owe any of us the way she speaks or what she say. My problem is when she dips her hand in the National cookie jar, then I have big problem. On her grammar, it will not bring water to her village, nor electricity to Nigerians or solve the unemployment and security problems facing our country. Same country that had IBB, Abacha and co as Head of states is complaining about unelected first lady...Wetin concern bird and airplane?

Make una leave madam pidgin english alone. When she speak fone through her nose, it is same you guys that will complain that she is forming and detached....

Madam speak the language as you know am, I no care, but I care when you follow loot.

[valteena]

------

There's a short and simple way out of this national embarrassment: tuck that Dame away, somewhere.

Public space is just not her place...

So she is now a piece of object to be tucked away somewhere en? Would you do same to the wife you married just because she is not as educated as you or not a good public speaker by someone's standard here?. Oh well I suppose it is up to any woman to allow herself to be tucked away somewhere for whatever reason. Educated or not.

Good thing Dame Patience isn't letting herself be tucked away somewhere but out there supporting her husband's quest as a wife should. And obviously GEJ does not believe in tucking his wife away too and is very proud of her with or without her fine English prowess. You go Dame Jonathan. Nothing do you jare.

One of my little grandkids drew our attention to the speaker when she said: "Who is this woman calling umbrella...umbllera!"

Everybody became more attentive and of course,seeing it is "Madam Bombastic" herself,we only had a little laugh,but saved GEJ the embarrassment by not telling the 3-year old the speaker s status.

Na by force to parade one s wife,even when she lacks the communication skills to be so paraded?President Shehu Shagari,according to tatafos had six wives during his tenure.All of them were safely locked away in purdah and nobody knew if they spoke good english or jargon when they "serviced" him in the palace.

Megida tried to parade Turai and she even led a Nija delegation to a nuclear conference abroad!Within a short time,she proved herself as a bombardier in spoken english. Na wetin?!We are now in the internet age and if shame no catch the hubby,shame dey catch us o!

Nigeria produced its first female SAN over 30 years ago. Our women are shining stars all over the world...why do we have to stick our "sore thumb" out and what point are we proving? Marriage is forever,nobody can change the Landlord s partner but she should stay home and mind the Landlord o!UMBLLERA,haba!

Agens if you say she's unable to speak fine queen's English, I agree with you but to say she lacks communication skills, you're way off there. Speaking good English does not a good communication skill make. Or what is your definition of communication and a good one at that, please tell?.

[valteena]

Her aides have also claimed that she absolutely refuses to read prepared scripts for her speeches . Jonathan is not much better too .

Which I think is great for her. Straight from the heart is what she wants to give and that is what people are getting lol.

@N.A.R.
She has actually stood next to Michelle Obama when she visited the US sometime last year I remember watching a video of both of them together. And she must have communicated well enough for Michelle to understand her and engage in some women talk with her as they seem to have done in the video.

With the exception of few Nigerians that have problem with her English and accent, I am sure the outside outside world cares not and accepts her as they'll accept all other non English leaders and government functionaries with English and accent limitations. It isn't a big deal.

[NoLongThing]

This Valteena and M Akosa deserve a lil' bit of spanking for sure. Oya make una turn around and touch your toes.

[M. Akosa]

Which I think is great for her. Straight from the heart is what she wants to give and that is what people are getting lol.

@N.A.R.
She has actually stood next to Michelle Obama when she visited the US sometime last year I remember watching a video of both of them together. And she must have communicated well enough for Michelle to understand her and engage in some women talk with her as they seem to have done in the video.

With the exception of few Nigerians that have problem with her English and accent, I am sure the outside outside world cares not and accepts her as they'll accept all other non English leaders and government functionaries with English and accent limitations. It isn't a big deal.

Thank you Valtee.

Honestly, I don't see anything wrong with her. She has the capacity to hold a mutual and warm rapport with others.

Of what use is a Havard or Cambridge graduate in English Language who is aloof and has no basic grasping and direct experiences at the grassroot level of issues that they speak about ?

I also watched her alongside Mrs Obama, and sure they did have some girly connections going on there, for them to be making a one-to-one conversation there for a while.
Dame Patience is undoubtedly a very direct, unabashed, warm and a cheerful personality. Who can even easily make a deaf person to remember what ever she says.

When you do start to expect her to make speech on major policy issues or more complex topics that requires expert knowledge. Then I am afraid she will be completely lost and has no place even being in such audience, let alone open her mouth. And I won't blame her.
Even "educated" folks like her husband also do not know about and can never authoritatively speak on every issue.

[Abraxas]

Hi, folks!

I must confess that, on second thoughts, I am constrained by reason to radically revise my previously held opinions on the subject under delibrations.

In simple English: I now see absolutely NOTHING fatally wrong about Dame (Mrs.) Patience Jonathan's approach to *EFFECTIVE* COMMUNICATION, as opposed to fluent and phonetically correct oral English. Paradoxically, her style of delivery is most effective (and efficient) for her audience: a massively educationally sub-normal electorate, in an election year. She has to *relate* with them, and not just "blow big-big grammar" over their heads, a la Better Life, Family Support, Child Care Trust, or WOTCLEF.

Apparently, from what I can gather, her target audience wants a *proper mother figure*. Someone who fits the image of a "Mummy" in the *African sense*. That is all that they WANT; NOT a skirt-suit wearing, Harvard Business School type, cosmetic surgery-compliant orator.

Evaluating her commitment and active participation as a spouse of a contestant, in the hectic business of electioneering in Nigeria, without meaning to be honey-tongued, I must confess that I believe Dame Patience Jonathan has earned for herself the recognition of being the hardest working presidential spouse in Nigeria to date. The crowds that she pulls are not trivial: umbllera or no umblerra! Therefore, the crux of her intentions must have been communicated EFFECTIVELY to her audience!! Remember, they have a choice of booing her, but they do not! Recall Governor (Otunba) Gbenga Daniel's recent experience???

Muchas gracias.

Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III)

[kate]

Having an American/british/igbotic/ijaw accent doesn't translate into
being a good communicator. The first key to speech delivery is to know the literacy make-up of your audience and speak in such a way that your audience can understand what u are saying.One can have speech carriage in any language-pidgin english, english, igbo etc. My problem with H.E.Dame Patience Jonathan is the lack of consistency in her language, in a sentence, one hears pidgin english, queens english, ijaw, igbo....i mean, you are going to speak Pidgin....Speak Pidgin, If it is english, so be it...if it is Ijaw,or igbo then knock yourself out, don't mutate any of the languages nor form a hybrid.She needs a class on speech delivery as well as on conversational english because english is the official language of Nigeria and irrespective of our ethnic or educational background, every nigeria should be able to communicate in a clear, simple and understandable sentence.

[valteena]

Having an American/british/igbotic/ijaw accent doesn't translate into
being a good communicator. The first key to speech delivery is to know the literacy make-up of your audience and speak in such a way that your audience can understand what u are saying.One can have speech carriage in any language-pidgin english, english, igbo etc. My problem with H.E.Dame Patience Jonathan is the lack of consistency in her language, in a sentence, one hears pidgin english, queens english, ijaw, igbo....i mean, you are going to speak Pidgin....Speak Pidgin, If it is english, so be it...if it is Ijaw,or igbo then knock yourself out, don't mutate any of the languages nor form a hybrid.She needs a class on speech delivery as well as on conversational english because english is the official language of Nigeria and irrespective of our ethnic or educational background, every nigeria should be able to communicate in a clear, simple and understandable sentence.

Methink you're contradicting yourself lol going by your explanation of a good or effective communication and the bold part of your comment. She is apparently an effective communicator given who her target audience are. And that woman is not speaking any pidgin, she is speaking English the way she knows how to, which is incorrect grammar with heavy accent. And even if she mixes it with any dialect what is wrong with that. It is allowed for effect, to mix any dialect in one's engagement with Nigerians, particularly of some local sayings that will lose its effect if translated in proper English. Don't see any inconsistency in such mix. Btw what is pidgin itself if not a mutation of English, a hybrid as you call it. And no she does not need any class in speech delivery. Her speech delivery(conveying her message) is class act and effective.

If you say she needs a class in English grammar maybe and that is if she thinks at her age and level now she needs it not because of criticism from certain quarters. English is our official language but what percentage of Nigerians can speak proper English. Many ordinary Nigerians speak the way that woman speak with an accent twist to it depending on what part of the country they're from. Abeg lef that matter of official language and Dame Jonathan alone Kate.

[First-lady]

I can't believe these things I'm reading about the dame communicating to her listeners being an excuse for her to continually disgrace herself in public.she is not communicating anything IMHO.She is annoying.
This is a woman who referred to orphans as widows,is that communication or someone being totally out of touch with elementary vocabulary.
Call home and speak to anyone that watches her on NTA,the woman is a laughing stock
People actually now watch her for entertainment.
You can see people in the audience holding down their heads in shame and people snickering while she's detonating.
it is very embarrassing and she ought to enroll somewhere and seek help.
Listening to that speech up there is enough for me not to press my hand in any umblerras.
I agree with Igboamaeze ,no be by force to campaign alongside her husband
Like someone said,she is not an elected official so why is she all over the place?
Recent news has it that she actually bumped Buhari from some hall in Oyo State for her campaign
Imagine
I hope there'll be a living soul left in Oyo state after she does her hiroshima and Nagasaki there