The cold war between former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, and governor of Bayelsa state, Chief Seriake Dickson, may have come to an end.
Patience reportedly announced her decision to reconcile with Dickson on Wednesday, September 2.
She also directed all her loyalists in the state to work selflessly for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the re-election of the Dickson as governor in the forthcoming December 5 polls, The Punch reports.
Close aides of the former first lady said she decided to support the PDP and Dickson’s seconf term bid to prevent the defeat of the PDP in Bayelsa by the All Progressive Congress (APC), which would be a disgrace to former President Goodluck Jonathan in his home state.
Other aides said she decided to bury the hatchet because of series of interventions by some Bayelsa elders, including the former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
According to a close relative of Jonathan and former State commissioner for Special Duties (Federal Project), Mike Ogiasa, whoever emerges the PDP flagbearer, whether Dickson or someone else, Patience would support him.
He said: “The Jonathans are not 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.
“And because she is from Bayelsa and Rivers States, she knows what it took the Rivers man to retain the PDP leadership. She cannot now because of anger allow Bayelsa to be under the APC .”
Ogiasa noted that Jonathan’s silence should not be seen as anti-party posture against the PDP as there was no way he would support the APC to take over Bayelsa.
It was gathered that there has been a major boost in the governor’s second term bid following the decision of Patience to reconcile with him.
For some time now, the relationship between the former first lady and Dickson has been a sour one.
About a month ago, report had surfaced that Patience was supporting the immediate past governor of Bayelsa state Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as she directed her followers not to support the re-election of Dickson.
Meanwhile, the governor is confident that he would clinch a second term in office. According to him, his relationship with Patience is very cordial and Jonathan has also been supportive and understands why he should be re-elected.
