Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has responded to a viral video suggesting a family crisis, stating that his family remains united and urging detractors to let his late wife rest in peace.
The governor made the appeal on Saturday while speaking with journalists at the 60th birthday celebration of former deputy governor Nsima Ekere.
His reaction follows a trending video posted by his second daughter, Jane Eno-Edidiong, who accused him of sacrificing their mother, Pastor Patience Eno, for political gains.
“My family is intact. We are in political times and so you can expect more of such. You can see everyone here. The event you are talking about happened immediately my wife passed. That was last year. So why is it surfacing now?” the governor asked.
He continued, “And why is it on the eve of our second anniversary that we are celebrating a milestone that we have achieved? This tells me that there are detractors around. So all I can say is that; my family is intact even here; that is Jane herself with her husband. We have a good family.”
Governor Eno explained that the period following the loss of his wife was traumatic for the entire family and appealed to the public not to reopen emotional wounds.
“The pressure on the children when they lose their loved one was so traumatic and we must know that. All I will appeal to the public is that they should not bring back sad memories. It is enough that I have lost my wife. I pray that they should allow her peaceful soul to rest in peace,” he said.
Despite the controversy, Governor Eno pledged to remain focused on the mandate given to him by the people of Akwa Ibom.
“But I cannot be distracted, I remain focused on my decision to serve Akwa Ibom people and I don’t wish what happened to me to should happen to anyone else but the people throwing this around: if that is what they wish for themselves, I wish them luck. But we are intact as a family.
“I believe even in politics, family should be off limits. I don’t think that was anything serious. I am here. We are good,” he added.
The video in question, which surfaced during the governor’s second anniversary in office, showed Jane—who currently serves as the senior special assistant to the governor on health, safety and environment—making emotional appeals and accusations.
In one clip, she said, “My name is Jane Eddidiong Ufot, SSA to the Governor on health, safety and environment. Daddy, I’m sending this post to you alone. Please, let’s talk before this destroys us. I am not a sacrifice. Mummy was—I’m not. I give you a few minutes. If you don’t act, I’ll post this everywhere.”
In another part, Jane was seen speaking to a young girl, saying, “Tell Grandpa, ‘Do you want them to kill us? Do you want us to die like my baby brother died?’” The little girl repeated the words, prompting Jane to declare that if she or her daughter dies, their blood would not be in vain.
Tensions around the governor’s family also stirred last year when he appointed his first daughter, Helen Obareki, to take over the responsibilities of First Lady and continue her late mother’s “Golden Initiatives For All” (GIFA) pet project.