There is a strong indication that the rift between the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has ended. Mrs. Jonathan has announced her decision to bury the hatchet with Dickson and directed all her loyalists in the state to work selflessly for the Peoples Democratic Party and the re-election of the incumbent in the forthcoming governorship election. It was further learnt that the decision of Patience to set aside her differences with the governor has led to a major boost in the second term bid of Dickson.
It was gathered from close aides of Patience that the decision to support the PDP and the second term bid of Dickson was to stop the All Progressives Congress from defeating the PDP in Bayelsa and, therefore, disgrace her husband in his home state. But other associates claimed that Patience’s decision to reconcile with Dickson was based on the series of interventions by some Bayelsa elders, including former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
Due to this change of mind, Patience was said to have directed her followers and loyalists including a former Special Adviser to the President on Domestic Matters, Dr. Waripamowei Dudafa, to work for Dickson. Dudafa is also said to be at loggerheads with Dickson over his alleged anti-PDP activities and sponsorship of some candidates of the All Progressive Grand Alliance.
A close relative of Jonathan and a former Commissioner for Special Duties (Federal Project), Mike Ogiasa, confirmed the processes that led to the reconciliation between Dickson and Mrs. Jonathan. He said:
“The Jonathans are known to me. As a close family member, I know her very well. She can suppress her anger against someone and do the right thing. As I am talking to you, I believe, as a typical PDP woman, she can never support another political party against the choice of the PDP.
“In politics, there is unity in diversity. People disagree to agree. It was not a hidden fact that Governor Dickson was at loggerheads with Dame Patience Jonathan. But it is also true that by human nature, she may not have supported Dickson. But she has weighed it and discovered that the election is beyond Dickson.
“She cannot now because of anger allow Bayelsa to be under the APC. Though I don’t know who she is supporting, I know that she can never vote the APC against the PDP.”