Why I appointed Patience Jonathan Perm Sec –Dickson

Bayelsa State Government has defended its recent appointment of the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, as a permanent secretary in the state civil service. It said that as a diligent officer, who rose through the ranks in the state civil service and was last appointed into the directorate cadre as a level 15 officer in 2005, the First Lady is most qualified to be so appointed.

The government explained that Dame Jonathan joined the Rivers State civil service in the 90’s and that upon the election of her husband as Deputy Governor in 1999 transferred her service to the civil service.

Besides, it said Governor Seriake Dickson is convinced that “wives of governors, vice presidents, presidents and all other spouses whose positions are not funded by the government should be encouraged and supported to pursue and maintain their independent careers,” adding that “wives of such officers should not suffer prejudices or deprivation merely as a result of the positions occupied by their husbands.”

In a statement by Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the Senior Special Assistant (media and public affairs) to the governor, the government said, “By the traditions of the Bayelsa State civil service, officers on directorate level, some of whom are even junior to her present position, have been appointed as permanent secretaries before now,” adding that “appointment is a combination of leadership, output, dedication, geographical spread, etc which informs a governor’s exercise of his discretionary powers to appoint permanent secretaries in consultation with the appropriate authorities.”

However, her appointment has continued to draw more flak as a constitutional lawyer, Professor Itsay Sagay, has described it as a huge joke and comical nonsense.

“It is a huge joke. It is a comic. I don’t really know what they take us for. It is only in Nigeria that you can have such kind of bizarre announcement. It is nonsense,” the erudite legal practitioner told The Nation on Sunday.

Human rights activist and member of the Constitution Review Committee, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), who is currently out of the country, expressed shock on phone saying: “that cannot be true.”

After a prolonged laughter, Agbakoba asked: “And did she accept it?”  He later promised to call back after making some checks on the story.

He then sent a text message that he was unable to confirm the story and said: “I can’t confirm so till am back.”

Activist and gubernatorial candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) for Lagos State in the last general elections, Comrade Ayodele Akele, would rather “wait and make some findings” before taking stand on the issue.

According to Akele, a former civil servant in Lagos State, “I don’t know her civil service background. I would advise that we find out some things about her history with the Bayelsa State civil service before making any statement.”