Editor’s note: Two months ago, Goodluck Jonathan and Patience Jonathan ceased to be Nigeria’s “Number One Citizen” and the First Lady, respectively. How is the process of getting back to a more normal routine going? Inspired by the recent incident at the Port Harcourt International Airport, with Mrs Jonathan being allegedly refused access to the VIP lounge and Federal Airports Authority denying having disrespected her shortly afterwards, Naij.com contributor Hussain Obaro shares his thoughts the model of behaviour appropriate for an ex-First Lady.
Patience Jonathan and Goodluck Jonathan
The show of shame and public display of lack of decorum, indecency and over-bloated self-importance a couple of days ago at the Port Harcourt International Airport by Mrs. Patience Jonathan points to the fact that the former First Lady is yet to come to terms with the fact that her husband is no longer the president of the country, and that her tenure long ended with the May 29, 2015 handing over.
Contrary to some media reports that Mrs. Jonathan, who prefers to be called Mama Peace, was embarrassed and humiliated at a south-south airport on the orders of some powerful Abuja’s politicians who “denied her access to the VIP lounge of the airport,” what really happened was that Mama Peace wanted to be accorded the same privileges she had enjoyed while she was the First Lady.
The airport staff and officials politely and respectfully told our dear Mama Peace that she’s no longer entitled to the privilege of being driven onto the tarmac through the VIP lounge gate into the airport facility. It is a known fact that only the president of the Federal Republic and others in that class have this exclusive reserve, due to security implications and in line with international aviation safety code.
There was no time the officials of the airport told the former First Lady that they were executing any orders from Abuja, as was widely circulated and speculated by a section of the media and wrongly asserted by the main opposition political party, the PDP.
Mrs. Jonathan, who immediately threw dignity into the wind as usual, lashed out at officials of the airport screaming on top of her voice, cursing and threatening the civil servants who were simply doing the job they are paid to do, needs to be properly reminded and enlightened about her conduct and responsibility of her new status as the former First Lady.
She must be tutored to effectively blending her attitudes with the present reality. She must be properly educated that one of the implications of no longer being in power is that she no longer gets to be driven onto the tarmac in any airport in Nigeria and outside the country.
As a former First Lady, there are basic rules of civilized conduct she is expected to obey. It may seem difficult for her to assume her new status of an ordinary citizen, having been in position of authority as wife of deputy governor, governor, vice president, and then the First Lady during the past 16 years, when she was virtually worshiped and treated as small god. But this is time for her to embrace the challenge, requirement and societal demands of her new status. Mama Peace should desist from further ridiculing the already battered image of the former president Goodluck Jonathan and allow the gentleman to peacefully relax and heal the wounds of his defeat at the last general election.
In as much as Mrs. Patience Jonathan deserves certain respect and privileges as wife of a former president and former First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there is need for her to avoid trying to go over the top. Mama Peace should emulate her predecessors and former Nigerian first ladies, who not only carried themselves and acted with a high sense of decorum and dignity, but fully blended and embraced the responsibilities of life outside the paraphernalia and glamour of office of the First Lady.
Hussain Obaro for Naij.com
Hussain Obaro is a writer, motivational speaker and public affairs commentator from Ilorin, Kwara state.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Naij.com.
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The post Mama Peace Forgot She Is No Longer The First Lady appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.
Mama Peace Forgot She Is No Longer The First Lady
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