Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has opened up about how the passing of his wife, Pastor Mrs. Patience Eno, has profoundly reshaped his daily life, leaving him to cope with grief by immersing himself in long hours of work.
Speaking on Friday at the one-year memorial service of the late First Lady in Uyo, the governor revealed that he often remains in the office until midnight, not because of a love for work, but because her absence has left a void he struggles to fill.
“I couldn’t have married a better woman,” the governor said with emotion. “She was the pillar of our family. She knew how to manage the home and was always making excuses for me before the children. For 40 years, no one ever had to settle a dispute between us.
“When I stay in the office until midnight, it’s not because I enjoy working late. It’s because no one calls me anymore to say, ‘UB, this work won’t finish today, come home, I’m waiting.’ I miss that. Now it feels like she just travelled, and I keep waiting for her to return.”
Governor Eno further recalled how he continued to feel her presence even after her passing, citing the moment he sensed her guidance while choosing the suit he wore for his PhD graduation at the University of Uyo in November 2023.
The memorial service drew prominent dignitaries, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, and the First Ladies of Lagos, Enugu, and Imo States.
Delivering a tribute on behalf of members of the State Executive Council, Frank Archibong, Dean of the Akwa Ibom College of Commissioners and Special Advisers, praised the governor’s strength despite his grief.
“Leading with a heavy heart is a burden few can bear, yet you have continued to steer the ship of state with clarity, purpose, and dedication,” Archibong said. “Your strength, anchored in deep faith, has been an inspiration to us all.”
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Akpabio commended the late Mrs. Eno’s role in sustaining her husband’s vision for peace and unity. “She will be remembered not just as your wife but also as the woman who encouraged you to bring Akwa Ibom together across political divides,” Akpabio noted.
On behalf of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Lagos State First Lady Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu described the late Mrs. Eno as “a woman full of humility, humour, and humanity. She was a mentor, a fighter, and a gift to mankind.”
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State also paid tribute, hailing her as “a woman of peace, charity, and enterprise, eligible for sainthood for her works and virtues.”
In his sermon, Rev. Simeon Afolabi, a long-time friend of the deceased, described her as “a woman of virtue who was kind to all,” urging her family and the people of Akwa Ibom to continue honouring her legacy.
