The visit of wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, to Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State, on Thursday, paralysed social and commercial activities on the
Yenagoa Mbiama Road for many hours.
It was learnt that the traffic congestion was caused by overzealous
security operatives, who cordoned off some places with their vans because the
President’s wife was in town to distribute empowerment items to some groups in
the state.
Commuters and motorists who were trapped in the gridlock created by the
visit were seen struggling to make detours.
Those who were frustrated by the long traffic jam disembarked from their
vehicles, confused as to what to do next.
A teacher in a school at the Erekpa area of the town, Mr. Preye
Goodluck, said the roads had been blocked as early as 10am in anticipation of
Patience’s visit.
He said, “As early as 10am, security personnel blocked some roads in the
Yenagoa metropolis, particularly the Ovom and Etegwe areas of the capital city.
“Scores of persons who went to the outskirts of the metropolis, such as
Igbogene, Agudama and other places, were also affected because they found it
extremely difficult to wade through the snarls.
“Many of us who wished to get to other parts of the metropolis had to
pass through Isaac Boro Expressway. Even the traffic on the expressway was
beginning to build up around 3pm.”
A motorist, Mrs. Stella Honesty, introduced political undertone to the
whole scenario, wondering what the President’s wife was coming to give as
empowerment items to the people.
She said, “Is it because general elections are around the corner? In
fact, if I were some people, I will reject any empowerment. Where was she all
this while? Some of us have refused to be deceived by this entire political
gimmick.
“Look at the kind of suffering one is going through because she is
coming. Must she create tension each time she visits anywhere? I have been
trapped in this logjam for a long time for a journey that would not have been
more than 30 minutes.”
At the Samson Siasia Stadium at Ovom, Yenagoa venue of the programme,
Mrs. Jonathan gave away various gifts and cheques to different groups.
She urged the women to vote en masse for her husband, Jonathan, who
recently declared for re-election.
She said the Peoples Democratic Party provided the best platform for
women in the country.
She reminded the women that her husband had promised 35 per cent
positions for womenfolk in his government if he won the 2015 presidential
elections.
Governor Seriake Dickson was not present at the event, though his
deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd.), attended.
Tags
Politics