‘First Lady To Be Charged For Inciting Violence’

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) will on Monday file a formal complaint against First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, for purportedly
calling on Peoples Democratic Party supporters to “stone” anyone who come to the state asking for change. 

The letter of complaint signed by Rivers State Governor and Director General of APCPCO, Rotimi Amaechi, will be dispatched to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police (IG) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), among others. 

According to Governor Amaechi, “Change, as the entire country must know by now, is the slogan of the APC – the rallying cry of a political party that wishes to bring hope of greater and better things to come for Nigeria and Nigerians. By her statement, Mrs. Jonathan was clearly calling on PDP supporters in Calabar to attack supporters and campaigners of the APC in the state.”

 The APCPCO in a statement by its Director of Publicity Garba Shehu likened some of Mrs. Jonathan’s statements and conduct during this political campaign season, to those of Mrs Simone Gbagbo, wife of the former president of Cote D’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo, prior to that country’s 2010 election.

“Mrs. Jonathan does not occupy any formal office in the Nigerian government, as the position of First Lady is not recognized by the Nigerian constitution. But Mrs. Gbagbo’s case shows the ICC’s awareness of how someone beyond formal governmental and military hierarchies can be identified as responsible for serious international crimes.” 

The APCPCO pointed out that Mrs. Jonathan’s unquestionable hate speech not only contravenes the laws of the land, but also goes completely against the Abuja Peace Accord jointly signed by the two presidential candidates, General Muhammadu Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan – a gesture which is aimed at forestalling violence before, during and after the 2015 elections. 

“PDP supporters in the state who may not know better could easily yield themselves to the First Lady’s admonition and embark on a process of wanton stoning and other attacks against APC members,” Governor Amaechi said.

 The APCPCO also called on the Nigeria Police to put in place emergency measures to protect the life and property of APC members in Calabar and the entire Cross River State.

Patience Jonathan has recently mocked the APC’s slogan saying that the PDP does not tell Nigerians about change because they are not bus conductors.