Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has dismissed the idea of taking another wife soonest following the death of his wife Patience Eno.
Mrs Eno died at an undisclosed hospital on September 26, 2024, surrounded by family members.
The governor addressed rumours about him taking another wife during a visit by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Friday.
He said, “I’m not considering remarrying anytime soon. I don’t have the money to pay another bride price.”
When the nation’s first lady Senator Remi Tinubu visited him also on Friday, he presented his daughter Helen Eno-Obareki as the acting first lady of the state.
Eno stated that his daughter would take on the duties of the first lady, ensuring continuity of the office and the projects initiated by his late wife, particularly the Golden Initiative For All.
“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 said.
He expressed his confidence in his daughter’s ability to uphold the values and vision of her late mother, affirming his commitment to sustaining the projects initiated through the first lady’s office.
In an emotional tribute, the governor described his late wife as his “greatest supporter and toughest critic,” recalling their lifelong bond.
Eno assured the people of Akwa Ibom that the initiatives she launched would continue, with his daughter leading the way in preserving her mother’s vision.
“I married her when she was 19 and I was 22. I called her Oluwa-Kemi because she was truly a gift from God. We went through many challenges together, and her passing is an irreplaceable loss for me,” he said.
Offering words of encouragement to the acting first lady, Mrs Tinubu said, “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.”
