Wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, on Sunday
sympathised with the government and people of Bayelsa State
over the death of some prominent women from the state in a
motor accident in Rivers State.
Although the two-paragraph statement by her spokesman,
Ayo Adewuyi, did not give the circumstances surrounding the
death, an online report said the women, including the wife of
the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Elizabeth
Oguru, died after a visit to Mrs. Jonathan.
The statement read, “The First Lady, Dame Dr. Patience Faka
Jonathan wishes to commiserate with the Government and
people of Bayelsa State, over the death of some prominent
Bayelsa women in a motor accident around Elele in Rivers
State, on their way to Bayelsa.
“The First Lady prays the Almighty God to grant the souls of
the deceased eternal rest and the families the fortitude to
bear the irreparable loss.”
The online report said the accident occurred in Ahoada on the
East-West Road in Rivers State.
It gave the names of others who died in the accident to
include Consider Amadi, a former Woman Leader in Ogbia;
Clara Abila, a grassroots politician; Immaculate Amasimua, a
former Commissioner in the Bayelsa State Civil Service
Commission; Zimbra Goma, a former Commissioner for
Women Affairs in Bayelsa State; and Hon. Ruby Benjamin, a
former member of the House of Assembly representing Brass
Constituency 1 of Bayelsa State.
They were said to be returning from Port Harcourt in Rivers
State where they had gone on a visit to Mrs. Jonathan.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety
Commission in Bayelsa State, Vincent Jack, confirmed the
development.
Jack spoke with newsmen on the telephone on Sunday.
He, however, said only nine persons died in the fire that
engulfed the vehicle in which the victims were travelling.
The accident was said to have occurred when the tyre of an
oncoming Toyota Sienna exploded and the car rammed into
the bus carrying the women.
The bus burst into flames immediately.
The coaster bus in which the women were travelling was said
to have bore the inscription: “Women For Change Initiative,”
Mrs. Jonathan’s Non-Governmental Organisation.
