Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has cleared the air on the appointment of his daughter, Mrs. Helen Obareki, as the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, following the passing of his wife.
The governor emphasized that Mrs. Obareki’s role is not that of the First Lady, but rather to oversee and implement the programs initiated by her late mother.
Speaking at the All Nations Christian Ministry International in Eket, Governor Eno explained that his decision was driven by the need for continuity and comfort, rather than political considerations. He noted that his daughter’s experience, exposure, education, and access make her the ideal candidate to sustain the activities of the Office of the First Lady, particularly the Golden Initiative for All (GIFA) and other support programs for vulnerable groups.
*Key Programs to be Sustained:*
– _Golden Initiative for All (GIFA)_
– _Support programs for women_
– _Support programs for the elderly_
– _Support programs for the vulnerable and less privileged_
Governor Eno 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 programs she was running—the GIFA, the support for the elderly, and other programs.” He added, “As long as I remain governor, those programs 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.”
The governor expressed gratitude to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of President Bola Tinubu, and her entourage for their condolence visit. He also thanked the church for their words of comfort and encouraged them to find solace in the word of God. Mrs. Obareki will be addressed as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor and Coordinator, Office of the First Lady.
