It was indeed a night to remember as Akwa Ibom people, Nigerians and even those living abroad gathered at the International Christian Worship Center for a night of glory and tributes in honour of the late Akwa Ibom State First Lady, Her Excellency, Pastor (Mrs) Patience Umo Eno.
The event which started on a somewhat cheerful note with song ministrations experienced some twists when tributes, especially those presented by the first family, through the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Mrs Helen Eno Obareki, and the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, turned to a display of emotions, eliciting tears from sympathisers. The two equally fought hard to hold back their tears.
Mrs Obareki in her emotion-laden tribute, interjected her flow with some grieving sobs, the very type that Queen Elizabeth II describes as “the price we pay for love.”
The State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno in his tribute, an unrestrained outpouring of his innermost self, recalled their early days, and fond memories.
“Dear Kemmy, you fought a good fight. As I forced myself to put the tribute together, my hands were trembling, and my fingers twisting. I can’t bring myself to accept the fact that you are truly gone.
“The pain is difficult to bear. The emptiness is scorching, and the sense of loss is deep and penetrating.
“But I must face the painful reality and accept the finality of the moment.
“I still remember the day we met, you were standing there, singing songs of praise to the Lord in your sonorous voice.
“You were beautiful, enchanting and alluringly attractive. I remember saying to myself, this is the wife God has ordained for me.”
Though gone, these few lines affirmed the engravement from an Irish headstone, “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”
He concluded with more heartbreaking words, “Today as we bid you farewell, the whole world is here, celebrating your memories, and as I look at our children and grandchildren and take further consolation in the fact that the journey that began forty years ago in church had been a journey of growth and immeasurable blessings.
“Kemi, I will never describe you in past tense. You will always be my Oluwakemmy, alive in my mind, fresh in my thoughts and warm in my heart.
“Good night and again, thank you. May the Lord bless your soul until I meet you to part no more. I will cherish you forever. Good night.”
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, both represented by the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, herself a former First Lady in Akwa Ibom State, also registered their tributes recalling her contributions to better the lives of the less privileged, and pray that God will grant rest to her soul.
Similarly, the immediate past Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, and his wife, Martha; former Governor Obong Victor Attah; Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elder Udeme Otong; the State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Ekaette Obot; the State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Bishop Chris Nyong; and the Presiding Pastor of All Nations Christian Ministry International, Pastor Ndaeyo Udomfuk, also paid glowing tribute to the deceased First Lady, Pastor (Mrs) Patience Eno.
The service featured song ministrations by different ministers and choirs including from Buchi, Aity Dennis, Steve Crown, Tope Alabi, Moses Bliss, Progress Effiong, Yada, Godfada, Jimmy D Psalmist, Queen Favour, Boby Friga, and John Bassey as well as the All Nations Christian Ministry International choir, Government House Divine Voices, International Christian Worship Center choir, YAMA Chorale, CAN Mass choir, Promised Land chorale.
