Richard, the only son of Pauline Tallen, former minister of women affairs, is dead.

According to NAN, the family announced his passing in a statement on Sunday.

Richard, aged 42, reportedly died on Saturday after being hospitalised at Cedar Crest Hospital in Abuja.

“The cause of his death was not immediately known but he was said to have been placed on oxygen in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Friday night,” the statement said.

“Burial arrangements will be announced by the Family.

“Eternal rest grant unto him oh Lord, may perpetual light shine upon him, may the soul of Richard and all departed VOBA RIP. Amen”

The deceased was a graduate of computer science from a United States university and was blessed with a wife and three children.

Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel from the secretariats of the 23 LGAs of Rivers state.

The officers had been deployed to “seal and safeguard” the LG secretariats.

Grace Iringe-Koko, police spokesperson in Rivers, announced the development in a statement on Monday.

“The newly deployed State Commissioner of Police, Bala Mustapha, conveyed the directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the Local Government Secretariats in the state,” the statement reads.

Umo Eno, governor of Akwa Ibom, has handed over the office of the first lady to Helen Eno-Obareki, his daughter, following the death of his wife, Patience Umo Eno.

The governor spoke in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capital, on Friday during a condolence visit by Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s first lady.

Eno said his administration would sustain the office of the deceased and that Helen would help coordinate its affairs.

“Unfortunately for me, I happen to be the first sitting governor to have lost his wife and I pray it will not happen again to anybody, it is my earnest prayer,” Eno said.

“It is not an easy task ahead but I want to please beg you, I will continue to sustain the office of the first lady and I want to please introduce our daughter, Helen, [and] hand her over to you ma’am. She will continue to coordinate the office, your excellency.”

Eno thanked Oluremi Tinubu for her calls and prayers while his wife was ill, saying she is a mother to the entire nation who — despite party differences — relates with everyone.

“We are a PDP state but that has never crossed your mind in dealing with people. You have been consistently the mother of the nation,” he said.

“Please help extend our warmest appreciation to our father, the president and commander in chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

On her part, Oluremi condoled with the governor, saying the deceased was a “peaceful, God-fearing woman”.

‘A LOSS TO THE NATION’

In a subsequent visit, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described Patience’s death as a loss to the entire nation.

“God gives and God takes. He is a man of God, she herself was a great woman of God and for me, I believe that yes, on the earthly plane, we have lost a first lady, he has lost a wife, the family has lost a mother and lost a grandmother but they have gained an angel in heaven,” Akpabio said.

“So my prayer is that this death will be the beginning of great legacies for Umo Eno because, as she is there now in heaven closer to God, she will be guiding, praying for him and interceding and then helping Akwa Ibom to prosper more under his tenure.”