Gov Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has dismissed reports claiming that he appointed his first daughter, Helen Eno-Obareki, as the state’s first lady following the demise of his wife, Mrs Patience Eno.
Eno explained that he made it clear during the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu’s condolence visit to him that his daughter being Special Assistant to her late mother was in the right position to coordinate the office of the First Lady of the state.
He stated that the move came more out of a natural outcome, than a product of political expediency.
The governor disclosed this at the All Nations Christian Ministry International, Eket, on Sunday.
He stressed that first ladies are not appointed, adding that in the face of the sad situation of the demise of the Akwa Ibom First Lady, it was not only proper but also comforting and assuring for the daughter who has been her closest assistant to coordinate the lofty programmes of the Office.
According to the governor, priority attention will be given to the late First Lady’s pet project, Golden Initiative For All and other support programmes for women, the elderly, the vulnerable, and the less privileged.
The governor added that these activities can only be sustained with Obareki as Coordinator due to her experience, exposure, education and access.
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, 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 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.
“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.”
Explaining further, he said, “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 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.”
