PRESIDENT JONATHANS WIFE, DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN RESIGNS *Wife of president Goodluck Jonathan has resigned as Permanent Secretary from the Bayelsa State civil service. *The 57-year-old Patience was said to have left the service voluntarily. *Dame Patience Jonathan was one of the appointed 17 permanent secretaries in the state civil service in July 2012. *The appointment had caused outrage in the state at the time with some Bayelsans expressing misgivings about it and the extent to which the civil service was politicised. *Though Ministry of Education sources said Patience disengaged from service voluntarily, there is speculation that she resigned because of alleged rift between her and Governor Seriake Dickson. *But our correspondent learnt from reliable sources that the ministry had computed her terminal benefits already. *For those who agreed to speak only on condition of anonymity, they said, “The whole thing is political. It appears Madam Peace is not happy with the governor. With her resignation, the battle-line has been drawn. Let no one deceive you, the whole thing is politics. After all, she is 57 and the retirement age is 60.” *However, a high ranking official of the ministry said it was true the First Lady had resigned. The official, who did not want her name in print for fear of victimisation, dismissed political undercurrents in her resignation. She said, “I can say Dame Patience Jonathan has voluntarily retired. *But whether there is political undertone in her resignation, I cannot say. “I think the First Lady felt that her continued stay as Permanent Secretary will be depriving others. *“Already, in accordance with the civil service rules, we have prepared all her entitlements. Whatever is due her will be given to her. She will also be receiving her pension.” punchng/news/jonathans-wife-resigns-as-permsec-over-rift-with-dickson/
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 07:09:37 +0000
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