Patience Jonathan distances self from dead Ijaw youth

Wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, on Wednesday distanced herself from one Christopher Awai who was reportedly drowned at the swimming pool of an Abuja-based hotel. A statement by her spokesman, Ayo Adewuyi, quoted the President's wife as saying that she had no link with the deceased contrary to media  reports that the deceased who died during a party organised by Ijaw students of the University of Abuja as part of activities marking their week was Mrs. Jonathan's nephew.

'Our attention has been drawn to media reports linking one Christopher Awai who allegedly drowned in the swimming pool of Agura Hotel, Abuja to the First Lady, Dame (Dr) Patience Faka Jonathan.

“This is to clearly state that the said Christopher Awai has no link whatsoever with the First Lady and as such, he is not a nephew of the First Lady.

“We also wish to state without any iota of equivocation that Madam Esther Ebiere Gbonkumor who was mentioned in the news reports as the immediate 'younger sister' of the First Lady is not in any way related to Dame (Dr) Patience Faka Jonathan.

“Madam Gbonkumor was said to have petitioned the Inspector General of Police on behalf of the family 'demanding a full corona inquest into Awai's death.

“It is an unfounded rumour which the First Lady knows nothing about and we will like the public and well meaning Nigerians to note, for the purpose of accurate record and common good,” the statement said.