Abuja Lockdown: Residents Lambast Patience Jonathan

Outraged Abuja residents are still reeling from disruptions to their socio-economic activities from the “peace and women empowerment” jamboree led by wife of Nigeria President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan and the Nigerian Council of Women Societies (NCWS) on Thursday.

They lambasted Patience and the women for locking down Abuja for several hours,  with many recounting their losses to the so-called peace rally which was turned into a political campaign for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Most residents of the capital city speaking this morning, lamented that the traffic gridlock resulted in disruptions to their economic activities even as they also condemned the jamboree at a time the children of the women involved are at home as a result of inability of government to meet the demands of university lecturers.

Traders and food vendors who plied their business at a special row of kiosks constructed by a soft drink company also complained that they were barred from moving near their places of businesses for the whole of yesterday by security agencies.

Others lamented that the top female staff of government agencies, ministries and parastatals were forced to attend the rally.

The participation of the Nigerian armed forces, with the march past by female officers of the services in the elaborate event was also condemned.

Uche Okechukwu, a student lamented that the President has allowed his wife to turn women who are vulnerable because of their poor economic status into a political tool, adding that it is unfortunate that the First Lady will assemble musicians for a “peace” jamboree in Abuja when university students have been at home for more than a month and massive killing by Boko Haram is going on in the North.

Source: Legit.ng