Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has criticized a media report (not from The PUNCH) claiming that his eldest daughter, Mrs. Helen Obareki, has been appointed as the state’s First Lady.
The PUNCH reports that Mrs. Patience Umo Eno, the governor’s wife, passed away at a hospital on September 26, 2024, with her family by her side.
During a condolence visit from the President’s wife, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, the governor explained that his daughter, who served as the Special Assistant to his late wife, is in a suitable position to oversee the First Lady’s office.
While speaking at All Nations Christian Ministry Intl, Eket, on Sunday, the governor stated that his daughter’s role in coordinating the office resulted more from a natural course of events than from any political maneuvering.
He mentioned that assigning her to oversee the office would help heal the family, ensure smooth operations, and offer him a source of comfort.
He emphasized that First Ladies are not officially appointed, noting that given the unfortunate loss of his wife, it was both appropriate and reassuring for their daughter, who had been her closest aide, to lead the significant initiatives of the office.
Eno stated that his wife’s key project, the “Golden Initiative For All,” along with other support programs for women, the elderly, the vulnerable, and the underprivileged, would receive special focus. He added that Mrs. Obareki’s role as coordinator would ensure the continuity of these activities, thanks to her expertise, background, and connections.
“Please listen to me and listen well, First Ladies are not appointed, they come with the governor. I made a statement, and I would like to repeat that statement for the avoidance of doubt.
“Our daughter, Mrs. Helen Obareki, will coordinate the office of the First Lady. She had been with the mother from the beginning, and you heard the First Lady of the Nation, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, say ‘The mother introduced her to me’.
“So appointing her as the coordinator is not an appointment of a First Lady. You don’t appoint a First Lady.
“So, by appointment, she is a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor and the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady. This is not political, it is natural.
“All I pray for is support and wisdom for her to be able to ensure that none of those programmes will die and that she will bring more insight and innovation to the office,” he said.
He stated that he chose to restore harmony within the family and ensure the office operates efficiently.
“The only reason I brought this up again is for clarification, that I am conscious of what I am doing, and it is to bring healing to the family and allow the office to keep running. That’s one of the ways I will be comforted,” the governor said.
Speaking further, Eno said, “Even when Jesus died, Peter said ‘Choose from amongst us those that were with Jesus’. So, for me, the Office of the First Lady has responsibilities to the women of this state, and my wife had programmes she was running: the GIFA, the support for the elderly and the other programmes, and as long as I remain governor, those programmes will not die.
“There must be a coordinator, and it must be someone that I see daily, someone that can walk into my room and brief me, not a distant person.”
He expressed his deep appreciation to Mrs. Tinubu and her group, which included some of Nigeria’s prominent women, for their visit, which he considered to be well-timed.
He also conveyed his gratitude for her recognition of Obareki’s appointment to manage the late mother’s office, considering it appropriate.
The governor thanked the church for their comforting messages and encouraged them to find solace in the word of God.
The PUNCH
