Ovation publisher, Dele Momodu in an open letter, has enjoined the first lady, Patience Jonathan to caution her unguarded utterance during the re-election campaign bid of her husband, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ), citing that some former first ladies did not meddle as much as she is doing.
He said that he was pushed to write the letter after the many spate of vocal terror she has said in the past weeks. He advised her that as long as she continues to utter such, she will continue to damage the fragile reputation of her husband at the coming elections.
He wrote, “I decided to write this open letter after the spate of vocal terror you deployed in the last few days against your husband’s opponents. In case some praise-singers told you lies that what you did was right, I wish to assure you that you have done almost irreparable damage to your husband’s presidential campaign.”
Opening the letter, he called for Patience Jonathan to remember that the current occupants of the Aso Rock will expire on May 29th.
“Your Excellency please let me start by emphasising the fact that this is my very first letter to you since destiny elevated you and your husband to the highest positions in Nigeria. It may be the last before your tenure expires on May 29, 2015, and another begins with you or someone else in the saddle….”
He went on to list former first ladies who were not rashly involved in the election campaign bids of their husbands to the extent of using violent and inciting language as she as done. He also said no first lady attacked any other prominent Nigerians verbally like she has done some.
“Never in the history of Nigeria have I read of a First Lady responding to criticisms in the frontal manner you attacked Professor Wole Soyinka over an issue that you could easily have ignored. That singular act of unrestrained combativeness was one of your worst public relations gaffes.
“Just imagine how much some of us attacked President Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan, General Sani Abacha and others over the June 12 crisis. None of their wives ever hit back at the critics no matter the degree of provocation. In fact, they acted perfectly normal and even tried to build bridges of friendship instead of bombing the castle.
“If Justice Fati Abubakar was a selfish woman and a poor adviser to her husband, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, she would have insisted that they should not quit power within the one year he promised to hand over to a democratically-elected President.
“I must also mention specifically Mrs Stella Obasanjo… She was everyone’s friend and continues to be fondly remembered even in death… I recollect one occasion when we travelled to Beverley Hills, USA, with her, and her simplicity just wowed everyone. She made sure we jumped in the cars and buses and headed out to a night club owned by Don Cornelius.”
