Wife of the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Mrs Christie Ada Sam-Ode, has said she should be excused from “the unnecessary controversy and misleading discussions circulating on various social media platforms regarding the position of First Lady in Benue State”, a statement from the Deputy Governor’s Office says.
The position of First Lady of Benue State has become a subject of intense debate and insinuation by some Benue Facebook users following the visit of Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen Oluremi Tinubu, to the state on Tuesday, June 16.
Mr Ior Ikyereve, a Deputy Chief Press Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Governor of Benue State, in a statement issued on Wednesday, June 17, said Mrs. Ode remains committed to supporting her husband in the discharge of his responsibilities and in advancing initiatives for the development and welfare of the people of Benue State.
Acknowledging that the position of First Lady in a state is traditionally and officially occupied by the wife of the Governor and that the Governor reserves the prerogative to assign responsibilities within his administration as he deems appropriate, the statement urged the public to disregard any misleading narratives about the office of the First Lady.
According to the statement, “Mrs. Christie Ada Sam-Ode is neither entitled nor nor lays claim to the position of First Lady of Benue State. Any insinuation to the contrary is misleading, unfounded, and should be disregarded.
“As the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Sam-Ode remains committed to supporting her husband in the discharge of his responsibilities and in advancing initiatives that complement the administration’s efforts towards the development and welfare of the people of Benue State. Her role is focused on supporting the deputy governor as he carries out duties delegated or assigned to him from time to time by the governor.
“Moreover, the Deputy Governor and his family have continued to enjoy a cordial and productive working relationship with the Governor of Benue State and other key actors within the government. This relationship is anchored on mutual respect, cooperation, and a shared commitment to delivering good governance and sustainable development to the people of the State.”
