Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has clarified that he has not appointed his daughter, Helen Eno-Obareki, as the new First Lady after the passing of his wife, Patience Umo Eno.
Patience passed away on September 26 after an illness, leading to public confusion about the future of her office. During a condolence visit from Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, Governor Eno mentioned that his daughter would assist in overseeing the affairs of her late mother’s office, particularly her pet projects.
However, some misunderstood this as appointing Helen to the role of First Lady.
A statement from Ekerete Udoh, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, clarified that Helen has been named the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, specifically to continue her mother’s initiatives like the Golden Initiative for All (GIFA). The statement stressed that “First Ladies are not appointed,” and Helen’s role is only to manage her mother’s projects, not to take on the title or responsibilities of First Lady.