Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has faulted a media report (not The PUNCH) suggesting that his first daughter, Mrs Helen Obareki, has been appointed as the First Lady of the state.
The PUNCH reports that Mrs Patience Umo Eno, wife of the governor, died at a hospital on September 26, 2024, surrounded by family members.
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 the right position to coordinate the Office of the First Lady.
Speaking at the All Nations Christian Ministry Intl, Eket, on Sunday, the governor described the move for his daughter coordinating the office as a gesture that came more out of a natural outcome, than a product of political expediency.
He stated that asking her to coordinate the office would bring healing to the family, keep the office running, and serve as one of the ways he would find comfort.
He stressed that First Ladies were not appointed, adding that in the face of the sad situation of the demise of his wife, it was not only proper but also comforting and assuring for the daughter, who had been her closest assistant, to coordinate the lofty programmes of the office.
Eno said priority attention would be given to his wife’s pet project, “Golden Initiative For All,” and other support programmes for the women, elderly, vulnerable, and the less privileged, adding that the activities could only be sustained with Mrs Obareki as coordinator due to her experience, exposure, education and access.
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