Uduak Udo, a special assistant on protocol to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has apologised for congratulating Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State on the death of his wife, Patience.
The First Lady died on September 26 and was buried on November 29 at their family compound in Ikot Ekpene Udo, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of the state.
During a public function in Uyo, Mr Udo said, “Let me congratulate His Excellency, the Governor of the State, over the demise of his dear lovely wife.”
The video clip of his remark went viral on Facebook and WhatsApp, with many people ridiculing him over the faux pas.
The Arise News aired the “embarrassing” clip, which sparked widespread criticism. Mr Udo later apologised for his mistake, stating that he wanted to congratulate Governor Eno for giving the late first lady a “successful and befitting” burial.
“This was a clear case of a verbal slip,” he said in a statement on Facebook. “This occurs when there is a disconnect between the thoughts in your mind and your utterance.” Mr Udo offered his apology to the governor and others, saying, “I apologise to Governor Umo Eno over this inadvertent error.”
He also apologised to his principal, the President of the Senate, whose office has been erroneously linked to this mistake. “To my family and friends, who may also have been embarrassed by this faux pas, I call for their understanding,”
Mr Udo added. “It has been a very troubling time for me, and pray that God will give me the grace to navigate out of this painful labyrinth.”
A political supporter of Mr Akpabio, Zion Umo, alleged that some political allies of the Senate president were using the clip to attack Mr Udo because of politics.
Mr Umo wrote on his Facebook page, “It’s funny that supporters of Patrick Umoh are seriously trending this video via WhatsApp groups and Facebook, which I am sensing that they might be seeing Uduak Udoudo as a threat since the rumours have it that Uduak is scheming his way to take over from Patrick Umoh come 2027.”
