Umo Eno, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, has clarified that he did not appoint his daughter, Helen Eno-Obareki, as the first lady following the
Patience Umo Eno passed away on September 26 after a prolonged illness.
During a condolence visit from Nigeria’s first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, Governor Eno stated that his administration would uphold the office of his late wife and that Helen would assist in coordinating its activities. However, this remark was misinterpreted to imply that his daughter had taken on the role of first lady.
In response to the confusion, Ekerete Udoh, the governor’s chief press secretary, issued a statement on Monday, October 7, explaining that Helen was appointed as a coordinator to ensure the continuity of her late mother’s projects.
“Our attention has been drawn to a misreporting by a section of the press on the appointment of Mrs. Helen Eno Obareki as the coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, as well as her substantive appointment as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor. We wish to set the record straight,” the statement reads.
“It would be recalled that during the condolence visit by our nation’s First Lady and Wife of the President, Distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, to Governor Umo Eno last Friday, the Governor had presented his daughter, Mrs. Helen Eno Obareki, as the ‘Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady’ to the Wife of the President.
“During the presentation, the Governor was specific on the new title and role Mrs. Obareki would be expected to perform. He stated that Helen, ‘having worked closely with her mother in the Office of the First Lady, will now coordinate the activities and functions of the Office of the First Lady to ensure that her pet project, Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), and other initiatives the late First Lady was working on will be continued and expanded. Her new title is the ‘Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady’.
“We are, however, amused to see reports that stated the Governor had appointed his daughter as the ‘New First Lady.’ For the avoidance of doubt, First Ladies are not appointed, and there has never been such a precedent before.
“Mrs. Obareki, the newly appointed ‘Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady,’ holds a Bachelor’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from the University of Oklahoma (2011) and a Master’s degree in Business Administration with special concentrations in Human Resources Management from Oklahoma Christian University (2012), United States of America.”
