WHY PATIENCE JONATHAN AND HER BEST FRIEND, PELEBO BANIGO PARTED WAYS

The once chummy relationship between Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Fafa Jonathan and her close friend, Pelebo Effiom Banigo has gone frosty. The two women have gone their separate ways and now maintain their respective lane. Pelebo is the wife of King Ebitimi Banigo, the paramount ruler of Okpoama Kingdom in Bayelsa State former Minister of Science and Technology and former Chairman of All States Trust Bank. King Banigo is also regarded as the undisputed godfather of modern banking in Nigeria, for he is reputed to have raised a crop of brilliant bankers, who did and are still doing exploit in the banking sector. King Banigo is also one of President Goodluck

Jonathan’s closest associates. He has the ears of President Jonathan and he is known to have helped facilitate the appointments of many people into political offices.

Sources disclosed that Peleboa and Patience became close friends during the period President Jonathan was the Deputy-Governor of Bayelsa State. The friendship between the two women was further fortified by the closeness between their husbands. So close was Pelebo to the First Lady that she always accompanied her on private visits, both within and outside Nigeria. Moreover, Patience was reported to have trusted Pelebo so much that she had no inhibition about taking her into confidence. Such was the depth of love and affection that existed between Patience and Pelebo.

However, the affinity between the two women rattled some of the First Lady’s close friends. Before long, side talks and petty gossips gave this group of women the vista to come between Pelebo and Patience, and caused disaffection. Source disclosed that Pelebo, who is very peaceful by nature, decided to opt of the First Lady’s circuit of close friends, when she could no longer cope with the petty gossip within the clique. Although she remains a good friend of Patience, she now keeps a respectable distance from the First Lady’s clique of friends. Her constant companion is now her elder sister, Eyamba Henshaw and a few other society ladies. 

Pelebo is the daughter of the late Edidem (Prof.) Nta Elijah Henshaw (V1), the former Obong of Calabar, the natural ruler, treaty king and the grand patriarch of the Efik Kingdom. She is one of the most prominent female celebrities within the Nigerian society. Blessed with a very alluring look, Pelebo is quite close to quite a few number of Nigerian famous society ladies. She is warm-hearted and very unassuming. Pelebo owns Executive Caterers, which is regarded as the most elitist catering outfit in Nigeria. Many notable society ladies always testify that Pelebo will stop at nothing to help and assist her friends, should the occasion demands for it. This informs why they adore the 55-year old society lady.