Cross River Governor Otu Condoles Governor Eno, Describes Wife’s Death as Colossal
By Uket Oka, Calabar
Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has described the demise of wife of his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Mrs. Patience Umo Eno, as a colossal loss to both states.
Governor Otu stated this in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, when he led top government functionaries, commissioners, aides and chairmen of local government areas of Cross River State, on a condolence visit to Governor Eno.
He noted that, “the vacuum created by her loss, nobody will lie that it can be filled by any other since no two people are the same and no two fingers are also the same, so it becomes impossible, imploring that, time heal wounds.”
Otu further said: “The Bible is very clear that we have to mourn with those who do. It is absolutely clear that each and every one of us will go through that door whether we like it or not but, it is just that at any point in time it comes, it is very unfortunate.”
Otu also maintained that when one has a family, definitely one day even if the family grows together, something must happen, adding that, the evidences are also very clear that it is not how the family is, but the legacies left behind that would continuously keep the bond strong.
Reaffirming the bond existing between Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State, the governor stated that, “we still share that bond of unity, that bond of affinity and that is why my team and I are here today.”
The governor further prayed God to grant the bereaved family and the entire state the fortitude to bear the loss and vacuum so created by the demise of the late Mrs Patience Eno.
“In this pain we would work closely with you, in this pain we will be beside you, in tears we will share with you, have it in mind that we are solely there with you, above all, the Almighty God will continue to be your strength,” the Cross River State Governor said.
Responding, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, remarked that the entire family is consoled especially when the members recall that as Christians, death is inevitable and all must pass through the path someday.
“God surely allowed it to happen because if it were prayers, even if I couldn’t pray, I know several prayers were offered, if it was the best hospital we could get, we tried. Having done all that she still left, then God must have approved of it.
“We take solace in the fact that we will see her again never to part, so we are consoled.
“We have been together for forty years, she lived an accomplished life even when she parted very young, we had children, grandchildren together and we had good life together.
“Her exit makes her larger than when she was alive considering the outpouring of love that we got, we want to thank you so much and thank all of the team you came with,” Eno said.
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, who further prayed that God should not allow a repay of such visit argued that, “it is not a good visit to repay anybody, we pray that God will extend our days and keep us strong and may issues of these nature be far away from our homes and families in Jesus name.”
Among the visiting team were the Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Elvert Ayambem and wife, the Chief of Staff, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar and wife; former Military Administrator of Kwara, Col. Pam Ogar (rtd); former Minister of Information and Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke; members of the state executive council, local government chairmen, commissioners, appointees and aides of the governor, including the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang.
