President Bola Tinubu, the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, and the First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu have joined other Nigerians in commiserating with Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State whose wife, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, passed on yesterday.

The Akwa Ibom State’s Commissioner for Information, Ini Ememobong, in a release on Friday, said the state’s First Lady died following an undisclosed illness.

President Tinubu extended his condolence to Governor Eno on the passing of his wife.

The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said he joined them in mourning the painful and profound loss of the state’s First Lady, who had supported Governor Eno’s administration.

The President affirmed that Patience Eno, as the wife to a visionary governor and an ordained gospel minister, embodied humility, resilience, and loyalty.

President Tinubu acknowledged that through her ‘Golden Initiative for All,’ she demonstrated her passion for serving the people and residents of Akwa Ibom state with love, honesty, and dedication, leaving a positive impact that will continue to inspire future generations.

According to the statement, “He trusts that her selfless service to improve the lives of women, children, and the vulnerable will forever remain an important part of Akwa Ibom’s history, a legacy that will continue to inspire and be appreciated by future generations.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a condolence message issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, urged his colleague to take heart and take it in good faith.

While commiserating with Eno, Sanwo-Olu said, “Although the Holy scriptures are clear about life and death as one of the most constant human occurrences, it is usually not very pleasant when we lose our loved ones.

“Take the death of your wife of many years in good faith and see it as the will of God.”

The governor also urged him to have solace in the fact that the First Lady of Akwa Ibom lived a fulfilled life, made positive impact, and left a lasting legacy.

Also, the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, expressed deep sympathy and commiserated with the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, over the demise of his wife, Mrs Patience Umo-Eno.

Yahaya in a statement by Director-General Press Affairs, Gombe Government House Ismaila Misilli, on Friday on behalf of the 19 Northern Governors, conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the government and the people of Akwa Ibom State during this period of immense grief.

He described the Akwa Ibom First Lady as a woman of great virtue, a loving mother, and a pillar of strength to her family and the state.

The NSGF Chairman consoled Governor Umo Eno to take solace in the divine will of God and the cherished memories of his late wife, praying God Almighty to “grant the bereaved family and the entire Akwa Ibom people the fortitude to bear this great loss, and for the peaceful repose of the soul of the deceased.”

In her message, the First Lady described the loss as “a deeply painful one.”

She said: “The First Lady who expressed her condolences in a statement she signed on Friday, said the deceased’s kindness, humility, and dedication to her people will continue to linger.”

The late First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, died on Thursday, September 26 after a brief illness in the hospital, in the presence of her family, at the age of 57. |SituationReport|