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Still On Patience Jonathan By Marshall Ifeanyi
Following the April 2007 general elections and the subsequent swearing-in ceremonies, key players in the new administration are beginning to emerge. Public functionaries therefore, at all levels, are viewed with great expectations and caution has become the catchphrase for most of them. When it concerns the Nigerian woman, the public eye goes even beyond cautiousness. It therefore extends to even her comportment, decorum, virtues, challenges of accountability, integrity and leadership in nation-building among other godly qualities that make up the woman person vis-à-vis her roles as a leader.
Nigerians expect nothing but perfection from the woman in her roles as a mother, wife and a professional. For them, that is the criteria for her to gain their respect. Nevertheless, many Nigerian women who find themselves in leadership positions have proven beyond doubts that the woman is not just fit for leadership but also can do more, thus making her a creature of double strength. Little wonder somebody said that the Nigerian woman has come of age.
It is in the above light that Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan comes to play. A woman whose upbringing was anchored on her devoted Anglican parents. They cared so much for their children’s moral conduct, gave close monitoring and also guided them a lot.
Imbibing the good nurture of her mother who hails from the South East, Dame Jonathan has always coordinated herself with a high sense of self-preservation. Many have identified with her simple nature. Caring, kind, a wife in every sense of it, a good woman, Dame Jonathan is loyal to her husband and respects her status as the number two lady of the federation. She represents the image of the new Nigerian woman: she is one who has proved many times that she is a symbol of motherhood and a role model to many Nigerian women. A true daughter of the Okrikans, she understands and speaks a number of Nigerian languages and is familiar with the terrain of many parts of country.
Dame Jonathan has exercised great respect for the position she finds herself and that of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua. In fact, the relationship between both women has been mutually cordial and characterized of loyalty and commitment to making the polity peaceful for smooth governance. They have shown a great deal of purposeful women leadership which is something to be commended. It is worthy of mention that so far, Mrs. Jonathan’s attitude is such that fully recognizes the authority of the First Lady and she has said that so long as the Nigerian women are concerned, “there can only be one leader and that is the wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua”.
The likes of Mrs. Jonathan are a statement that if only women could focus, money is not all; love, life and belief in God are. And that is the overriding principle guiding Mrs. Jonathan who has exhibited a high sense of simplicity, humility and love for humanity and as such has endeared herself into the hearts of many Nigerian women. She is down-to-earth and has shown herself as one with the fear of God and also with a likeable personality. People like this are hard to come by and when one is discovered should be celebrated.
A popular saying in this our part of Africa has it that ‘the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach’. This dictum did not just emerge from nowhere. It is a verity, tried and tested and should be upheld by every woman. This is one area she takes seriously. Her very busy schedule, it is learnt, never deters her from personally preparing her husband’s meals, a practice she admonishes younger women to embrace. Many laud her leading role as a wife in this respect.
Her contributions to building homes, enabling strong family ties and nation-building should be glorified and aligned with the Nigerian woman and her achievements which can be traced from the success of many notable women who have proven their worth in government and the private sector.
A knight of the Anglican faith. To her, knowing God is the central purpose of life and gives a reason for how victorious and fruitful a true Christian life should be. No wonder she adheres strictly to the injunctions of Jesus Christ which ask us to “seek first the kingdom of God and all other things shall be added unto us”. It makes her ponder: if there is anything in which she has failed to put God first, or if her decisions have been made after her own wisdom and desires, rather than seeking and following God’s will and if any of the following interfere with her surrender and service to God – pleasures, loved ones, friendships, desire for recognition or money.
A teacher by training, Dame Jonathan believes in education and is also versed in bilateral relations as depicted in her views at a faith-based gathering in a foreign land: “I believe that we (both countries) should agree more in the area of academic activity in science and technology. This will further strengthen relations between us and deepen our friendship”.
However, human nature has revealed that people may not always be what they seem. With unsuccessful attempts to blow up the house of the couple the general feelers have hinged on what crime they must have committed to warrant such threats to their lives. Recently also, some persons have been launching series of attacks on the Jonathans through the pages of newspapers. Many concerned Nigerians have expressed dismay at such bizarre acts. Despite all the attacks, the family of Dr. Goodluck & Dame Patience Jonathan has remained focused, peace-loving and progressive-minded. This instructs that when God elevates anybody, nobody can bring such person(s) down. The Jonathans have indeed been lucky and it is all because of God.
Quite unlike many others who find themselves in top positions and affluence, this great lady is never deterred from being focused and does not involve in any form of indulgence. It points to so many things especially to the fact that no matter what happens to an individual, s/he still has the ability to choose to excel. She is one woman worthy of our admiration. May the blessings of our heavenly father abound in her life as she diligently works under and follows the good lead of our dear First Lady.
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