The governor of Akwa Ibom, Umo Eno, has appointed his daughter, Helen Eno-Obareki, to the office of the state’s first lady, following the demise of his wife, Patience Umo Eno.
Eno spoke in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capital, on Friday when receiving Nigeria’s first lady, Oluremi Tinubu in a condolence visit.
The governor said his administration would sustain the office of the deceased and that Helen would help steer its affairs.
“Unfortunately for me, I happen to be the first sitting governor to have lost his wife and I pray it will not happen again to anybody, it is my earnest prayer,” Eno said.
“It is not an easy task ahead but I want to please beg you, I will continue to sustain the office of the first lady and I want to please introduce our daughter, Helen, [and] hand her over to you ma’am. She will continue to coordinate the office, your excellency.”
The Akwa Ibom governor then appreciated Oluremi Tinubu for her calls and prayers while his wife was ill, noting that she is a mother to the entire nation who — regardless of party differences — relates with everyone.
“We are a PDP state but that has never crossed your mind in dealing with people. You have been consistently the mother of the nation,” he said.
“Please help extend our warmest appreciation to our father, the president and commander in chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Whilst speaking, Oluremi condoled with the governor, saying his late wife was a “peaceful, God-fearing woman”.
In another condolence visit to the governor, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described Patience’s death as a loss to the entire nation.
“God gives and God takes. He is a man of God, she herself was a great woman of God and for me, I believe that yes, on the earthly plane, we have lost a first lady, he has lost a wife, the family has lost a mother and lost a grandmother but they have gained an angel in heaven,” Akpabio said.
“So my prayer isthat this death will be the beginning of great legacies for Umo Eno because, as she is there now in heaven closer to God, she will be guiding, praying for him and interceding and then helping Akwa Ibom to prosper more under his tenure.”