AKWA IBOM WOMEN MOURN FIRST LADY
• Describe her painful passage as a great loss.
…Pray for strength for the Governor, family and State.
Following the unfortunate passing of the wife of the Governor of Akwa Ibom, Pastor Mrs. Patience Umo Eno, women across the State on Friday, 27th September, gathered to pray for the peaceful repose of the deceased and strength for her husband, family, and the entire State.
The prayer session, which was held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo had in attendance the Deputy Governor, Senator (Dr) Akon Eyakenyi, other female political office holders, wives of senior government officials, female Permanent Secretaries, and other stakeholders.
Addressing the women in an emotion-laden voice, Senator Eyakenyi bemoaned the passage of the First Lady as a personal loss to her and a huge loss to the State while urging the women to uphold the first family in their prayers.
“The passage of the First Lady is not only a personal loss but a huge loss to the State. We must be strong and uphold the family of the departed First Lady in our prayers.” She said.
She emphasized the need for collective support, noting that while the Governor is a strong man, he needs the support of the women to strengthen him and his entire household.
“Our Governor is devastated by this tragic event. Although he is a strong man, he is still human and therefore needs the prayers of the women, as mothers in the State, to strengthen him and the rest of the family she has left behind.” She added.
Explaining the purpose of the gathering, Senator Eyakenyi said it was intended to afford women a collective platform as mothers to intercede for the Governor, his household and the State at large in the face of the tragedy.
“As women who trusted and worked with our mother, if the Governor were around, we would have gone to see him, to encourage him and pray with the children.
“I spoke with him. Since he is far away at the moment, I felt that we should still perform our role as mothers, sisters, and friends by gathering to pray even in his absence, believing that God will answer our prayers and strengthen him.”
She encouraged the women to find solace in their faith, affirming that the First Lady had gone home to rest.
In a brief exhortation, Dr. Mrs. Utibe Eno urged the women not to despair, advising them to find comfort in knowing that “God has called his faithful servant home.”
She urged them to continue Pastor Mrs. Patience Eno’s good works.
The gathering featured prayers for the first family, hymns and worship.
