Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has announced that the Office of the First Lady will remain operational, with Helen Eno Obareki, his daughter, appointed as the coordinator in honor of his late wife, Patience Eno.
Governor Eno made this announcement on Friday at the Government House in Uyo while receiving the First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, who paid a condolence visit to commiserate with the Governor and the people of Akwa Ibom State on the passing of the First Lady.
The Governor assured that his administration would continue to uphold and expand the initiatives and programs established through the Office of the First Lady. He explained that Helen, the eldest daughter from his 38-year marriage to Patience, was his chosen successor to carry on her mother’s legacy.
“It is a challenging responsibility, but in order to maintain the work of the Office of the First Lady, I would like to introduce our daughter Helen and present her to you, Ma. She will continue to coordinate the office, Your Excellency, and will work closely with all our mothers, the Deputy Governor, and the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs,” Governor Eno stated.
‘Irreplaceable’
In his tribute, the Governor described the departed First Lady as a perfect example of the biblical virtuous woman, his closest prayer partner, chair leader as well as his best critique.
He described her death as an irreplaceable loss, recalling his coinage of the “Golden Boy” catchphrase which upturned the tide of attacks on his person and appearance.
“I got married to my wife when when she was 19 years, and I was 22. I called her Oluwa-Kemi because God gave her to me as a comforter, someone who gave me succour. We have journeyed through life, thick and thin, victories and defeats. We are perplexed because we have lost someone irreplaceable,” the governor said.
“She was my biblical description of a virtuous woman in all ramifications. She was my Cheerleader and also my best critic. So for me, the mourning is a lifetime mourning.”
The Akwa Ibom State Governor further expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his show of love and support in the period of grief and particularly to the Nation’s First Lady for her prayers and words of encouragement, also appreciating condolences from other Nigerians and Akwa Ibomites, as he restated his resolve to continue working with the President, irrespective of party differences.
“You have been consistently, and truly a mother of the the nation, drawing all your children close. So I want to thank you. This visit and this very big delegation, with Her Excellency’s sister wives of governors and all of the entourage that you have brought, further confirms that you are the mother of the nation,” he said.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in her message of condolence during the visit, expressed deep regrets over the demise of the Late Patience Eno, whom she described as a warm, God-fearing and peaceful woman, who was very supportive of her pet project at the national level and also supported her husband to succeed in office as State Governor.
The President’s wife commended Governor Eno’s resolve to maintain the office of the First Lady in the State and his choice of Helen to man the office, assuring the Governor’s daughter of support to help her further the lofty visions of the State First Lady’s office as well as give required support towards her father’s success in office.
High points were prayers by the wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima, and the wife of Bayelsa State Governor, Gloria Diri; and the signing of the condolence register, by Oluremi Tinubu.