Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has broken his silence over a resurfaced video in which his daughter, Jane Eddidiong Ufot, appears to accuse him of being linked to the death of her mother, the late Mrs. Patience Eno.
The controversial footage, which recently gained renewed traction on social media, was originally recorded shortly after the First Lady’s death in September 2024. In the emotional clip, Jane, who currently serves as the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Health, Safety, and Environment, made grave allusions, stating: “I’m not a sacrifice. Mummy was — I’m not.”
Reacting publicly for the first time, Governor Eno addressed the issue during a public event held in Uyo to mark the birthday of former Deputy Governor, Obong Nsima Ekere. In attendance were several members of his family, including Jane and her husband, a visible show of unity amid swirling speculation.
“We are in a political season, and these things will come,” the governor said. “That video was made during a period of grief, right after my wife passed. People grieve differently. But it’s curious that it’s being circulated now, as we mark our second anniversary in office.”
He dismissed the timing of the video’s resurgence as politically motivated, accusing unnamed detractors of attempting to exploit family pain for partisan gain. “My family is intact. You can see Jane here. We have gone through our pain and are healing. I plead with the public not to reopen old wounds.”
In the now-viral footage, Jane was seen in distress, addressing her father directly: *“Daddy, I’m sending this post to you alone. Please, let’s talk before this destroys everything.”* In another clip, she prompted her daughter to repeat haunting words allegedly referring to the death of a younger sibling: *“Do you want them to kill us? Do you want us to die like my baby brother died?”*
She ended her message with a chilling declaration: “If I die today… let my blood not go in vain.”
Governor Eno, visibly emotional, acknowledged the trauma his children faced, emphasizing that grief had taken a toll on the family. “No parent wants to see their children suffer like that. But my focus remains on serving Akwa Ibom people with integrity. This will not derail me.”
Since the passing of his wife on September 26, 2024, due to an undisclosed illness, the state government reported that she died “peacefully at the hospital, surrounded by family.” In a subsequent move that stirred fresh speculation, Governor Eno appointed his eldest daughter, Lady Helen Obareki, to step into her late mother’s shoes as the symbolic First Lady and lead the Golden Initiatives For All (GIFA) project.
Rumors have since circulated about the existence of a second wife, but the Governor has neither confirmed nor denied the claims.
In his final words at the event, Eno appealed for empathy: “I’ve lost my wife already. That pain doesn’t go away. If those sharing this video wish the same for themselves, I leave them to their conscience. But families should be left out of political mudslinging.”
As tensions swirl between personal tragedy and public perception, Akwa Ibom citizens are left to weigh the truth behind the viral footage — and whether it’s a cry for help or a weaponized distraction.
