Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State denied claims that his first daughter, Mrs. Helen Obareki, had been appointed the state’s First Lady.
He confirmed that his daughter was appointed as the Coordinator of the First Lady’s Office, as he informed Senator Oluremi Tinubu during her condolence visit.
Speaking at the All Nations Christian Ministry International in Eket on Sunday, Governor Eno said that his choice was a natural one, not prompted by political concerns.
He stated that first women are not appointed. However, once his wife died, it was natural and comfortable for his daughter, who had been her mother’s closest aide, to oversee and implement the office’s initiatives.
Governor Eno stated that his late wife’s pet project, Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), will be prioritized and other assistance initiatives for women, the aged, the vulnerable, and the underprivileged. He went on to say that Mrs. Obareki’s expertise, exposure, education, and access allowed these initiatives to continue solely with her as coordinator.
He said:
“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.
“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.”
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cc: Daily Post Ng
