A NOTE OF GRATITUDE: This is a text of my broadcast speech on Friday, October 4, 2024.

"We are Perplexed but Not in Despair"(2 COR. 4:8)

1. On Thursday, September 26, 2024, my wife of 38 years, Her Excellency, Pastor (Mrs.) Patience (Oluwakemi) Umo Eno, passed on to be with the Lord. Kemi was everything a man could ever wished for in a virtuous woman. My prayer partner, counsellor, cheer-leader, best critic, home maker and permanently smiling. I will miss her for a life time.

2. On behalf of my family, I wish to express my deepest gratitude and eternal indebtedness to all Akwa Ibomites in particular and Nigerians in general for the incredible outpouring of love, support, prayers and words of encouragement through phone calls and messages of condolence and visits since the unexpected sunset that befell us. This has really encouraged and strengthened us at this time.

3. I am particularly thankful to our dear President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his uplifting message of condolence and personal phone call, as well as the Nation’s First Lady, Distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON for the motherly role she played since my wife fell ill till her demise, The Government and people of our State welcome her to the State on her condolence visit. We thank the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, former Presidents and Vice Presidents, the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON and wife, former Senate President, Distinguished Senator, Dr. Bukola Saraki, CON, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, CFR, The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), His Lordship, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, (GCON), The Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), Distinguished Senator George Akume, my brother Governors, both serving and former, who, individually and through the Nigerian Governors' Forum, sent in their condolences. We are also very grateful for the solidarity shown by Sister Wives of Governors (First Ladies) of the other 35 States of the Federation.

4. I am grateful for the message of condolences from former Governor, H.E. Arc. (Obong) Victor Attah, The untiring support and prayers of the immediate past Governor of our dear State, H.E., Udom Emmanuel, CON, and wife, The Chief of Defence Staff, General Chris Gwabin Musa, Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, The Legislators and Judiciary both at the Federal and State level, Members of the Federal Executive Council, our Party, The Peoples Democratic Party, and other political parties led by The All Progressives Congress (APC), YPP and IPAC, other political stakeholders across party lines too numerous to mention here, Members of the Clergy across the nation, CAN, PFN, Fathers in Faith, all other Support Groups, all Labour Unions, Traditional Rulers, members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm (NUJ and NIPR), our people in the Diaspora under the auspices of Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria, AKISAN, especially the Mayor and Council President of the City of Upper Arlington, in Ohio, Mayor Ukeme Awakessien Jeter. Our Elders, Our Women, Our Youths, Our students, especially National Association of Akwa Ibom State Students, NAAKISS both past and current leadership in Akwa Ibom State, who again suspended their planned national protests in honour of my dear wife.

5 Let me particularly thank our dear people from all strata of life, who have risen in unison across party lines to commiserate with us, through prayers, condolences and phone calls, and even suspended campaign activities to honour the memory of our First Lady. We are deeply grateful.

6. Let me emphasize the words of Apostle Paul to the Corinthian Church in 2nd Corinthians 4:8-10 (8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body) KJV. Yes, we are perplexed by the death of my dear wife but we are not in despair, as all things lay bare before God.

7. Let me use this opportunity to assure all that, we will pursue everything she held dear while she was with us. The Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), as well as all other initiatives she had started will be sustained and expanded. The machinery of State will continue to function seamlessly as Government will continue to be alive to her responsibilities. Our focus will not be shifted from rendering services to our people with renewed strength as this is what Kemi has always prayed for.

8. Let me appreciate you my dear people for honouring the demise of my late wife, with the flag being flown at half mast for seven (7) days, that would come to an end on Saturday, October 5, 2024.

9. Permit me to commend our security agencies for maintaining the peace during this solemn moment in our dear State and urge them to do more to maintain the peace, as we go into the Local Government Elections.

10. Finally, I must confess that your words of encouragement have helped a great deal in comforting us at this moment of great loss, grief and bereavement. I trust that you will continue to respect our privacy as we journey through this grief.

11. Further announcements on the burial arrangements will be made public at the appropriate time as we will not mourn as those who have no hope in Christ Jesus. Thank you and God bless us all.