Patience Jonathan mourns Bayelsa women including SSG's wife who died after visit to her

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.