… As glowing tributes trail late A’Ibom First LadyÂ
Governments of Akwa Ibom and Abia States have forged a collaboration in the area of road infrastructure towards ensuring that roads linking the two neighbouring states are in top shape, while promoting existing economic ties between their people.
The understanding was reached during a condolence visit by the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, to his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Governor Umo Eno, at Government House, Uyo, following the demise of the First Lady, Pastor (Mrs.) Patience Eno.
Governor Umo Eno, expressed the appreciation of his immediate family and the entire Akwa Ibom people for the condolence and support bestowed on them in their season of grief, especially by personally making the visit despite logistics challenges, adding that the kindness received has been a source of strength.
According to Governor Eno, the departed First Lady in her short but impactful lifetime, had left legacies that she will eternally be remembered for.
He noted that the choice of his first daughter, Mrs. Helen Obareki, who was her closest assistant while alive, to coordinate activities of the First Lady’s office, is a step to ensuring that all her lofty visions are sustained.
“We want to thank you first of all Sir, for not just the visit, but all the calls and encouragement. As I said to people, the lose of my wife is a lifetime lose. We courted for two years, and we have been married for 38 years. So forty years is not something one can easily forget. It is like half of me is gone, but she was an accomplished woman. She made her impact, joined me to pastor our Ministry and did excellently well in managing the women and building homes,” he maintained.
Corroborating the position of the Abia State Governor on the need to ensure the roads linking Akwa Ibom State to one of Eastern Nigeria’s economic hub, Aba in Abia State, Governor Eno assured of his readiness to partner with the Abia State Government in their appeal on the Federal government to expedite action on the intervention on the Ikot Ekpene-Aba Road, remedy defective portion of the Ini-Arochukwu Road and initiate other actions to ensure accessibility of economic- viable roads linking the two states.
“…for the road you have talked about, if there are other roads that we can as two states collaborate to work on, we are prepared to do that. We can look at the road and see how we can partner to do it because at the end of the day, it is our people that will use the road.
“Aba remains a very strong regional commercial centre for all of us. I will see whatever we can do to ensure that our people have that smooth passage to and from Aba,” Governor Eno stated.
The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, speaking earlier, expressed the condolences of the government and people of Abia State to Governor Eno, his immediate family and people of Akwa Ibom State for the loss of the First Lady.
He affirmed that the far-reaching acclamation of her impactful life speaks volumes and her demise a grievous loss, and prayed God’s comfort for the bereaved family and rest for the departed.
Governor Otti acknowledged the visible dividends of good governance in Akwa Ibom State and encouraged Governor Eno to continue his people-oriented projects and programmes in the State, assuring of the support of Abia, being Akwa Ibom’s closest neighbour to get the roads linking the two states fixed, for the socio-economic interest of citizens across the two states.
