The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has paid glowing
tribute to her late mother, Madam Charity Oba, stating that she was “a mother
in a million who was a devoted mother and a devout Christian.”
The First Lady
stated this on wednesday, when she arrived in the country from a trip to
Geneva and was received in the State House Abuja by the President, His
Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who was accompanied by former Head of
State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the
Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Anthony Anenih and some top aides.
The First Lady recalled that Madam Charity Oba, who was the
younger sister of her biological mother, had raised her from a tender age and
made her the person who she is today. Dame, Patience who sat next to her
mother-in-law, Madam Eunice, in a room full of sympathizers, remarked
philosophically that “God knows best.”
Earlier, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, had
offered prayers for the deceased and members of the extended family.
In a related development, the First Lady also received State
Governors who came to commiserate with her over the death of her mother.
Speaking on behalf of the Governors, Dr. Godswill Akpabio, the Executive
Governor of Akwa Ibom State, urged Dame
Jonathan to take heart, while offering the deep condolences of the PDP family
to the First Lady and her extended family.
In response, the First Lady thanked the governors for their
prayers and for their concern. State
Governors present included that of Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Kogi, Katsina and Enugu States.
Also present were Ministers, Heads of Government Agencies,
wives of top government officials as well as Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the
Ambassador of Nigeria to Spain.
A.O. Adesugba (Mrs.)
Director (Information)
State House
