Akwa Ibom residents woke to the news of an “unexpected sunset” on Friday, following the death of the first lady, Patience Umo Eno. She passed away at the age of 57.
The governor’s wife died around 8 PM on September 26 in an undisclosed hospital, sparking speculation about the cause of her sudden demise.
This marks the first time a governor’s wife has died in Akwa Ibom while serving as first lady.
An official announcement from the commissioner for Information, Ini Ememobong, stated she died from “an illness” in the presence of her family. He did not offer further details.
However, a close family source informed Medialord that the governor’s wife battled an unspecified ailment for some time.
The source described her as a strong, prayerful woman. She preferred to bear others’ burdens rather than let her health issues disturb anyone. “She bore the last moment like a true soldier of the cross. Her Excellency was strong and resilient. She went through a lot, health-wise, but she didn’t want to let it bother anybody,” the source said.
‘If Money Could Buy Death’
“If money could buy death, Pastor Patience Eno would not have died,” another family source told Medialord while recounting the first lady’s last moments. She noted that Mrs. Eno had been unwell for several months and had recently returned from a foreign trip for further treatment.
“If you noticed, she did not feature in public events for a while. She hadn’t even attended church for about four months. She went for treatment and only returned a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, she relapsed yesterday afternoon, and before we knew it, she passed on.”
The source added that the family feared for Mrs. Eno’s life during the COVID-19 pandemic when reports indicated she had contracted the virus, but she recovered shortly after.
Umo Eno’s Success Secret
Mrs. Eno served as Umo Eno’s well-kept success secret. “She was the rock, the success secret behind her husband for years,” the source noted. The first lady contributed significantly to the Royalty hospitality business, stating, “She held the catering supply to ExxonMobil together.”
She also played a crucial role in Umo Eno’s emergence as governor, mobilizing women and energizing every campaign. Patience Eno originated the “Golden Boy” sobriquet that the governor is known by today.
Speculations about the cause of the ‘unexpected sunset;
Following her sudden death and the lack of details, speculation about the possible cause circulated rapidly by Friday morning. Some alleged that she had struggled with cancer for years, citing her choice to wear low cuts often. Reports indicated she underwent chemotherapy, which resulted in hair loss.
However, Medialord gathered that the first lady died of kidney problems. “She travelled out of the country for kidney transplant and died a few days after the operation”, a family source confided.
Others suggested she suddenly fell ill from an undisclosed ailment. A statement from the family remained awaited at press time. The government’s statement read, “The family submits to the will of the Almighty and asks for the prayers and support of kind-hearted individuals during this trying time.”
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