By Bassey Nkponam
NSIT UBIUM
As preparations for the funeral of Akwa Ibom First Lady deepens, with Nigerians in various umbrella from within and outside the State trooping to Ikot Ekpene Udo in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, the country home of the deceased on a condolence on the husband and family, the Akwa Ibom governor and husband of the deceased has said he will not bury his late wife with government funds, thus countering the thoughts of some persons towards the funeral.
Pastor Umo Eno, who stated this on Friday in his country home, Ikot Ekpene Udo, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, during a condolence visit on him by the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Akwa Ibom State chapter, led by its chairman, Dr Uwemedimo Udoh, said though it was her right as the First Lady, he will not take one kobo from government’s treasury for her funeral, but from gifts and contributions from Nigerians who have visited him during his period of grief.
Eno said the family, through the numerous goodwill, has more than enough to conduct the funeral of the late First Lady, late Pastor Patience Umo Eno, thanking all for the show of love, and praying God Almighty to bless them.
He stressed the need for unity among the various arms of government for the development of the State, noting that whatever is one State, and whatever happens to any part of the state affects the entire state, while also using the occasion to call for the spread of political appointments in the third tier of government across the villages in the 31 local government areas.
“You have made it easier for us and the SSG is aware that we will not use one naira of government’s money to bury my wife. The reason is clear: she is my wife and the first lady. It is her right but I will not take one kobo from government’s treasury.
“It has been gifts and contributions like what you have done, and it shows me how much you loved her, and by extension love me and my family. I can tell you that we have more than enough to conduct the burial because of your goodwill and we cannot but thank you. God Almighty will bless you in Jesus’ name.
“I will continue to ask that we work together. We have only one State, whether it is local government, State, Judiciary or Legislature, it is one State, and whatever happens to any part of this state snowballs into all.Just like one body joined together by several parts, so is the State, and we need to work together in harmony”.
The state chairman of ALGON, Udoh, who doubles as the chairman of Uyo Local Government council, said ALGON’s visit was to formerly register its sincere condolences to the governor and his family on the tragic demise of the late First Lady whom he described as their dear mother, friend, woman of God who did so well for them, cared for, and gave them wise counsel.
“Individually and collectively, we came to sympathise with you and your family and to also enjoin you to continue to grow fast with all confidence in God and in total submission to his will.
“As tragic as it might seem, God has already given you and your family the strength to bear through. These chairmen and their vice are all with you in this moment of grief and will continue to pray and ask that the good Lord who strengthens, the good Lord who provides, the good Lord who fills vacuum when they are created, will continue to be with you and your family and give you the strength to continue to carry on.”
Udoh expressed the resolve of ALGON to continue to partner GIFA- the pet project of the deceased first Lady – because of the multidimensional effects it had on the lives of women, young girls and the elderly in the rural communities.
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