Encomium
Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, was evidently overwhelmed by emotions as she addressed a group of women on Monday, May 5, 2014, in Abuja, over the missing Chibok school girls in Borno. It was a touching clip as she wept as she expressed displeasure over the Borno State government shoddy handling of the case of the kidnapped girls. She repeatedly chanted There is God o!, reminding the girls’ abductors of the evil of their action.
In the 1 minute 34 seconds clip, which has gone viral, the first lady couldn’t hold back tears. Her words …do you come with two teachers? You were not informed, too? Eh? Continue, No problem. God will see us. There is God o! There is God in everything we are doing. The bloods that are sharing in Borno will answer. What of two teachers? WEAC. Two teachers that can tell us that they conducted that exam. Did you come with any? Principal, na only you waka come. Okay. The first lady is calling you. I want to help you find your child. Your missing child. Will you keep quiet? Chai! Chai! There is God! There is God o! The bloods we are sharing. There is God o!
Reactions have followed the first lady’s crying in the clip. Some termed mere drama, while others sympathised with her over the missing girls.
Social media reacts…
@xchimo: Prispa! Na only you waka come? Dia ris God ooo! Patience u no go kill person with lafta.
@fhemmy: I am sure she is thinking or imagining if those were her daughters, I hope I am right though.
@repliering: See a mother who’s touched by how her husband’s government is being rundown on daily basis by ruthless and worthless creatures.
@eaglechild: Very sensitive of the first lady.
@cold: I really don’t know what to feel right now. Should I laugh, get angry, feel pity, scream or just throw laptop across my room? I’m so pissed with all these sickening and horrendous events.
@wilhemma moses: Chai! Dis woman no go kill me. So we now share blood not shedding? Hmmm! There is God oooh!
@jag-bros: #onlyyouwakacome. But seriously, who sis sharing ‘bloods’?
ENCOMIUM Weekly’s Michael Nwokike took the matter to the streets. These were the reactions…
Damilola Adekoya said, “I really hope those tears were genuine and not playing by the script. It would really be disgusting if the aim was just to elicit sympathy. But bros, I no go lie, that video funny die. I couldn’t stop laughing. There is God o.
FORTUNE NZEH: I will respond to the video with a parable. So, you can think about it yourself. It is better to shut your mouth and make people think you are a fool, than to open your mouth and clear all doubts. That’s all I have to say.
IBUKUN OLAGBENI: We don jam for this country. Mr. President tell us say any money wey you steal, America will know. Now, our amiable first lady has coined hers. Only you waka come couldn’t contain my laughter when I saw the clip on Channels.
WUNMI AROGUNDADE: Her breaking down and shedding tears was totally unnecessary. We don’t need that. We need action. Not crying on national television but There is God o!
TAYO OKUSANYA: It is typical for women to get emotional and they sometimes relieve themselves by crying. I totally understand the pain she felt, even if the missing girls are not her biological daughters.
