Formal zoo first lady security agents bar Patience Jonathan from P’Harcout airport VIP lounge

Wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience, yesterday, expressed shock and sadness over what she called “disrespectful refusal” by security personnel, who denied her access to the VIP lounge at the Port-Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State. The refusal was alleged to be as a result of a purported directive of the “powers-that-be from Abuja.”

Patience Jonathan, who said she had received the shameful treatment, twice, in the last seven days at the airport, vowed to formally protest the conduct of the security personnel to the relevant authorities.

She said she found it hard to believe that such instruction would come from the Presidency as they made her to believe.

Explaining what actually transpired, an eyewitness and family friend of the First Lady, who did not want his name in print told National Mirror that Dame Jonathan was on her way to the burial of her late Chief Security Officer, CSO, Tamuno Jacob Igbomie, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who was allegedly shot dead by unknown assailants penultimate Friday. Igbomie’s corpse was found in his Honda Accord car along Airport Road, Abuja with all his phones, wallet and other personal effects intact in the car.

The source further said: “That last Friday, July 17, the former First Lady arrived Port Harcourt International Airport and made for the VIP lounge as had been the practice, thinking she would still be given her due recognition in the society.
But she made a very big mistake as she was practically locked out and prevented from accessing the lounge.

“All efforts by the former president’s wife and the few people by her side to pacify the security agents to allow the long known protocol be, were rebuffed as they stood their ground swearing that they were acting on the orders from Abuja.” The source added that similar thing happened to the former First Lady while coming back.

He said: “On Dame Jonathan’s return from the burial, the same fate attended her with the same excuse prompting observers to ask if Abuja would give such a directive against the personality and family of the immediate past president.

“The former first lady, however, took the development with equanimity while she waited to board her flight back to Abuja.”