I have no hand in Ebonyi PDP crisis, says Patience Jonathan

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on
Tuesday restated that she was not involved in the selection
of candidates vying for elective positions on the platform of
the PDP.
This is contained in a statement issued by her Media
Assistant, Mr Ayo Adewuyi, in Abuja.
The statement was in reaction to a media publication
alleging that Jonathan had anointed the Deputy Governor of
Ebonyi, Chief Dave Umahi, as the gubernatorial candidate of
the party.
"It has again come to our notice that some politicians who
are desperate to score cheap political points have connived
to tarnish the image of the first lady, Patience Faka
Jonathan, by roping her into the Ebonyi PDP crisis.
"We consider it absurd that any person will assume that the
first lady would make such a request considering the fact
that she has continued to preach for peaceful conduct of all
aspirants before, during and after elections."
According to the statement, this is another attempt by
mischief makers to loop their self-induced political travails
around the first lady to develop strategy for their survival.
"Let us state once again that the first lady is not an elected
official of the state, neither is she a party functionary. She
therefore recognises very clearly her place in the scheme of
things.
"Let it be known that the first lady has no hand in the
selection of the party's candidates in any state and definitely
not in Ebonyi.
"If anything, she has continued the gospel of peaceful
atmosphere for the conduct of 2015 elections.''
According to the statement, she believes the elections can
only be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere and the
aspirants must be alive to contest and win election.
"She only preaches peace because she is a mother of peace.
"To therefore allege that the first lady insisted that the
Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, must be
the gubernatorial candidate of the party against the wish of
the people and the party is to say the least subjudice."
The statement said that the National Working Committee
was making efforts to ensure that peace returned to the
state chapter of the party.