When Death Unites

The First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Patience Eno, may be dead and gone but she has inadvertently become a symbol of unity in the state and country in death

By Inemesit Ina

Family members of the late First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Patience Eno, knew all along that she was someone special. But not even the most imaginative would have envisaged that she would become a shining symbol of unity in Akwa Ibom and Nigeria. In death, Patience ended up uniting people across political, ethnic, religious, economic and social divides. And she became larger in death than in life.

Her husband of 38 years, Pastor Umo Eno, said as much at her service of songs on Wednesday and funeral service, two days later, both held at her country home in Ikot Ekpene Udo in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.

*Roll Call*

The funeral service attracted people from all walks of life.

From the federal level came leaders or representatives of the three arms of government.

The executive arm had Vice President Kashim Shettima and wife, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo.

The legislature had Senate President Godswill Akpabio and wife, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Deputy House of Representatives Speaker Benjamin Kalu and wife and Members of the National Assembly.

Representing the judiciary were Justice Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court and Justices Ita Mbaba, Okon Abang and Ntong Ntong of the Court of Appeal.

A cross-section of sub-national leaders were also there – the Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), the Chairman of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) Govermors’ Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Governors Simi Fubara (Rivers), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Alex Otti (Abia) and Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi),

Other notable personalities present were former President Goodluck Jonathan, the wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mrs. Bola Obasanjo, the PDP Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, top government officials in Akwa Ibom State, PDP and APC chieftains in the state, among others.

And there were thousands of ordinary people who turned out to mourn the departed First Lady.

*The Enos for All*

The honour done Patience across divides in death is what her husband has enjoyed since assumption of office on May 29, 2023.

Because of his remarkable politics of inclusion, many, including opposition leaders and foot-soldiers, have come to accept Eno as the Governor of all. No one, despite political leaning, appears alienated from government projects and programmes.

Little wonder, most government events hosted by the Governor attracts the presence of many opposition leaders.

*Attah’s Observation*

Between August and September 2024, this writer wrote and produced the 80th birthday video documentary of a veteran politician and women leader in the state, Obong Rita Akpan, for the Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong, and members of the Forum of Former Political Heads of Ministry of Information. Rita, an accomplished educationist, had served as Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and later Commissioner for Education in the administration of the first civilian Governor of Akwa Ibom State, late Obong Akpan Isemin, from 1992 to 1993, Secretary to the State Government under the second civilian Governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah, between 1999 and 2000, and Minister of Women Affairs under Obasanjo as President from 2003 to 2005.

In the course of research for the documentary, one interviewed Attah at his residence in Shelter Afrique Estate, Uyo. Apart from appointing Rita his first SSG, the former Governor also recommended her to the then President for appointment as the first female Minister from Akwa Ibom.

While in office, Attah set a record in politics of inclusion. He extended empowerment (he introduced this word into Akwa Ibom’s political and economic lexicon) to the opposition.

As an aside after the interview, this writer joked that Eno had taken a cue from Attah in the politics of inclusion and looked set, at the rate he was going, to beat his predecessor’s record.

Smiling, the elder statesman replied: “That is why he is succeeding.”

It is easy to agree with Attah. Eno’s success, so far, seems to be enabled by his uncommon ability to heed the biblical admonition to be peace with all men.

In return, making his wife a symbol of unity in death appears to be a statement of appreciation by Akwa Ibomites and Nigerians for the Governor’s rare style of politicking.