Gov Defends Appointing Daughter As First Lady’s Office Coordinator

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has risen in defence of appointing his daughter as coordinator of the First Lady’s office.

His reaction follows media interpretation of his announcement that his daughter, should coordinate the First Lady’s office at Government House, Uyo, after her mother, Mrs Patience Umo Eno, passed on at a hospital on September 26, 2024

But providing reasons for the decision, the governor said it would not just keep the office running, but that it would also bring healing to the family.

Gov Eno who stated these on Sunday, at the All Nations Christian Ministry in Eket, said the decision was not political but aimed at ensuring the office remained alive and that it was something that would also help him to find comfort.

According to him, the daughter had also been her mother’s closest assistant in the office and was the most suited to take over running it.

“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.

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’“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.

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The governor added that given priority attention needed for his wife’s pet project, “Golden Initiative For All,”, that his daughter was most suited to run the First Lady’s office in Uyo, especially given her experience, exposure, education and access.

“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.