GOVERNOR Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has dismissed media reports that he appointed his first daughter, Mrs. Helen Obareki, as the First Lady of the state, clarifying that his daughter was only appointed Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady during the condolence visit of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu over the death of his wife, Patience.
Speaking at the All Nations Christian Ministry International in Eket, on Sunday, October 6, Eno explained that his decision was a natural outcome, not one motivated by political considerations, maintaining that first ladies are not appointed.
He stated that following his wife’s death, it was appropriate and comforting for his daughter, who had been her mother’s closest assistant, to oversee and implement the programmes of the office, adding that priority attention would be given to his wife’s pet project, Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), and other support programmes for women, the elderly, vulnerable and the less privileged, which could only be sustained with Mrs. Obareki as Coordinator because of her experience, exposure, education and access.
The governor stated: “Appointing our daughter, who had worked closely with her late mother, as the coordinator is not an appointment as First Lady; you don’t appoint a First Lady. The Office of the First Lady has responsibilities to the women of this state, and my wife had programmes she was running- the GIFA.
“As long as I remain governor, those programmes will not die. There must be a coordinator, and it must be someone I see on a daily basis, someone who can walk into my room and brief me, not a distant person.”
Eno explained that by the appointment, his daughter would be addressed as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor and Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, reiterating that this decision was one way to bring healing to the family and comfort to himself.
He thanked Mrs. Tinubu and her entourage, the church and the public for their words of comfort, encouraging them to find solace in the word of God.
