First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan has said
she would never lift a finger to hurt or plan evil against Rivers State
Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
In a statement issued last night by her Special Assistant on Media, Ayo Osinlu, the First Lady noted that Governor Amaechi is her son.
The First Lady, who spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while
receiving members of the Niger Delta Bishops Forum/South South Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN), called on various interests in the Rivers
State crisis to sheath their swords and find ways to restore peace to
the state.
The statement reads: “Dame Jonathan particularly appealed
to Governor Rotimi Amaechi to fly the olive branch, and resist being
used by outsiders against his own people.”
While giving an insight
into the genesis of the crisis in the state, she reiterated the need for
the warring factions to employ dialogue as a means of resolving the
contending issues amicably.
The First lady urged those who are
crying more than the bereaved to stop magnifying the misunderstanding,
while reiterating that Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Mr. Nyeson Wike
remain her sons, brothers and kinsmen, and would do anything to protect
both of them.
Expressing her commitment to ensuring that peace
returns to Rivers State soon, she said that as the President of African
First Ladies Peace Mission, her desire is to have peace in her home
base.
Quoting copiously from the Holy Bible, Dame Jonathan brought
out the vital, dynamic and creative resources for peace building as
ordained by God, as well as the importance of respect for elders and
those in authority.
She emphasized that she has committed the
situation in Rivers state to prayers, saying: “Because I believe there
is nothing prayer cannot do and when God says yes, nobody can say no”.
The First Lady, who charged the Bishops to pray that God should return
Rivers State to its normal peaceful situation, expressed her faith that
with God the present generation will leave a legacy of peace for
generations yet unborn.
The Bishops, led by ArchBishop God-Do-Well,
said that they were not influenced or bribed to pay the visit, but got
inspiration from God to take practical steps to restore peace in
Nigeria, especially Rivers State.
According to him, their visit was in fulfillment of the church’s responsibility to shape a culture of peace and justice.
Prayers were offered for peace in Nigeria, Rivers State and the well being of the first family.
Source: The Nation

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