NEVER, NEVER AGAIN: THE SHORT, POWERFUL AWE-INSPIRING PRAYER BY GOV UMO ENO FOR A’IBOM
Like the renowned anti-apartheid activist, and first President of South Africa, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has prayed with a loud voice that ‘never never again,” will Akwa Ibom State lose a first lady.
Governor Eno offered the prayer in his short but touching remarks at the Night of songs held in honour of the State First Lady, Pastor (Mrs) Patience Umo Eno held at his country home, Ikot Ekpene Udo, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
It would be recalled that Nelson Mandela in his inaugural speech as President of South Africa in 1994, proclaimed, “Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another.”
Governor Eno in his case proclaimed “… never again in the name that is above every other names will we bury any first lady in this state in the name of Jesus Christ, I take this as my loss, but it will never happen again. I know, Jesus understands; and in all things, we cannot query Him, but give thanks to Him.”
While Mandela’s declaration was a sequel to his sad and unpleasant experiences under the Apartheid South Africa, having spent 27 years in prison for opposing the apartheid system, Governor Umo Eno has no doubt suffered even more psychological and emotional torture from the loss of his wife, soulmate, prayer partner, advisor, and number one cheerleader of 40 years.
Despite this traumatizing experience, which, Peter A. Levine, an American psychotraumatologist, biophysicist and psychologist, described as “hell on earth,” Governor Eno instead of praying only for healing for himself, and family, rather prayed for the future of Akwa Ibom, and its leaders.
The Governor who has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from eminent Nigerians and from the diaspora, also used the opportunity to express his gratitude and also prayed for God’s blessings and protection for all.
“We are grateful, you have made my wife larger now than when she was alive. we have seen love, we have seen unity in this country and amongst our people, across party lines, these have emboldened us, given us hope for Nigeria that tomorrow will be better than today, we may be passing through some difficulties but the kind of unity and outpouring of love that we have seen in the few days past, we know that if we bring this together as a nation, we will get out of the woods.
“Words have failed me but all I can say to you on behalf of our family is that we are grateful, we are thankful and we will continue to sustain the memory of my wife and mother and work hard as she would have wanted us do. The outpouring of love is placing greater responsibilities on our shoulders, I want to thank all Akwa Ibomites for your love, for your good wishes, those that I may not be able to reach, let me use this platform to say to each and every one of you, God will bless you.
Eulogizing the departed First Lady, Governor Eno said she lived true to her name “Patience” and lived a fulfilled life.
“My wife lived a fulfilled life and we thank God for the privilege that God accorded us together in the last 40 years, I salute her courage, salute her faith, salute who she was and give God all the glory as we look forward to seeing you on the 29th as we lay her body to rest because we know that her soul is already with her maker. thank you for coming, thank you for your gifts, thank you for your good wishes.”
The night which was both solemn and
exhilarating with soulful hymns, also featured a charge by Archbishop Dr Emmah Isong, Presiding Bishop of Christian Central Chapel International, who urged Christians to live with the understanding that “we live a borrowed life,” and the Owner could call for it at anytime.
The high point was a song ministration by the children, inlaws and close family of the deceased First Lady. They sang one of her favourite songs, “From everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.” to the delight of all present.
