Gov. Eno Speaks On Daughter Taking Over As Akwa-Ibom First Lady

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Umo Eno, has explained why his daughter, Mrs. Helen Obareki will be stepping in as Akwa-Ibom First Lady, adding that she will also take over control of her late mother’s NGO

Recall that Mrs Patience Umo Eno, wife of the governor, died at a hospital on September 26, 2024, surrounded by family members.

Recall also that during a condolence visit by the Wife of the President, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, the governor said his daughter, as the Special Assistant to his late wife, was in natural replacement for Office of the First Lady.

Speaking at the All Nations Christian Ministry Intl, Eket, on Sunday, the governor described the move for his daughter to coordinate the office as a gesture that should not be described as a political appointment.

He said: “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 said he decided to bring healing to the family and allow the smooth running of the office.

“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.

Many dignitaries have paid condolence visits to the governor and his family, see pictures from the visits bellow: