AKWA Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has appointed his daughter to replace his late wife, Patience, as the state’s First Lady.
The governor reportedly presented his daughter, Helen Eno Obareki, when President Bola Tinubu’s wife, Oluremi, paid a condolence visit to his family in Uyo, the state capital.
He said his decision to replace his late wife with his daughter was to sustain the office.
“To maintain the Office of the First Lady and carry forward my late wife’s work, I present our daughter, Helen, to continue the duties of the office.
“She will work closely with the Deputy Governor and the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Welfare,” the governor explained.
Eno, a pastor, however, said the vacuum left by his late wife could not be replaced by anyone as their union had passed through thick and thin.
The President’s wife was reported to have expressed support for Obareki’s appointment.
She hailed the decision as a way to sustain the late Patience’s legacy, particularly through her pet project, the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA).
“Your mum didn’t bring you to me for nothing, and it’s a blessing that your mum’s colleagues and the Vice President’s wife are here to support you.
“I know you well, and I believe God will guide you. You will accomplish even more than your mother, and He will grant you good health,” Mrs Tinubu said.
While the office of the First Lady is alien to Nigerian Constitution , the position is highly adored at different tiers of government in Nigeria.
Over the years, the official status of the office of the First Lady has been a subject of controversy.