It’s Wrong To Say I Appointed My Daughter As First Lady –Akwa Ibom Governor
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has picked holes in media reports claiming that he has appointed his first daughter, Helen Eno-Obareki as First Lady of the state noting that no one appoints anyone to such a position.
Recall that the governor’s wife, Mrs. Patience Eno had died on September 26, 2024, after a short illness.
Governor Eno also noted that he had during Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu’s condolence visit to the state submitted that his daughter being her late mother’s Special Assistant is well-placed to coordinate the office of the First Lady of the state.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the governor, who made this clarification at the All-Nations Christian Ministry International, Eket, on Sunday, noted that it was the best decision under the circumstances.
Emphasizing that First Ladies are not appointed, he noted that following the sad incident of his wife’s death, it was not only proper but also comforting and assuring that the daughter who has been her closest assistant should coordinate the lofty programmes of the office adding that priority attention would be given to the late Mrs Eno’s pet project, Golden Initiative For All and other programmes for women, the elderly, the vulnerable, and the less privileged.
‘Please listen to me and listen well, First Ladies are not appointed, they come with governors. 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, Sen. 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 the governor’s Senior Special Assistant 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.
The only reason why I brought this up again is for the purpose of 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.
Even when Jesus died, Peter said to 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 the 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 said.
The governor thanked Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, and her entourage for paying a condolence visit to the state and also expressed gratitude to her for acknowledging the appointment of Obareki as coordinator of her late mother’s office while appreciating leaders and members of the All Nations Christian Ministry International for their messages of consolation .
He however urged them to be consoled in the word of God and not give into vain and hopeless emotional expressions in the name of mourning-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
