Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has advised the people to be wary of those seeking power through violence and blackmail as tools to attain political power in 2023.
Emmanuel gave the advice during the grand finale of the inauguration of the Local Government Steering Committees for a peace advocacy machinery, Maintain Peace Movement (MPM) in Onna LGA, on Friday.
He expressed the belief that power was not attained through blackmail and violence but by Divine Providence.
“There can’t be development without peace. We want to sustain the peace. Anybody who is seeking power through violence and blackmail does not wish Akwa Ibom well.
“It is about peace in our state for us to attract foreign direct investment, for us to attract investors, for us to create medical tourism for Akwa Ibom people, and lots more,” he said.
Emmanuel, who formally accepted the role of Grand Patron of the movement, described MPM as a divine and forward-looking movement geared towards sustaining the gains of good governance in the state.
He emphasized that no meaningful development would be achieved in the absence of peace, hence his insistence that the prevailing peace must be sustained beyond 2023.
“MPM is forward ever, backward never. We are trying to consolidate what God has done for Akwa Ibom.
“We called it Divine Mandate, Only God. Those who joined the ark that time now have cause to smile,” Emmanuel said.
The governor inaugurated Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem and his team, as the Central Coordinating Committee of MPM for doing a good job, describing the committee members as true lovers of the state.
“These people love the State that’s why they are accepted to go round and preach the message of peace,” the governor said.
The State Chairman of PDP, Mr. Aniekan Akpan, restated the party’s readiness to remain supportive of the completion agenda and succession plan of the governor.
Speaking, Mr Enoidem described the people of the area as worthy ambassadors of MPM.
Enoidem noted that he and his team were in Onna to water a seed that would be beneficial to all.
He harped on the importance of peace and the need to sustain the Governor’s development efforts.
Enoidem, the National Legal Adviser of the PDP, said the best thing that has happened to Onna and Akwa Ibom was the emergence of their son, Gov. Emmanuel, as Governor in 2015.
He explained that Akwa Ibom has enjoyed relative peace and unprecedented economic growth as a result of quality leadership employed by the governor.
“Today is the grand finale of the inauguration of MPM across the 31 local government areas in the State. We stand here representing you as Ambassadors of peace.
“We have your mandate to ensure peace is maintained in your time and after your time.
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“There is no part of this state that your administration has not touched. You have engineered in the minds of every Akwa Ibom son the spirit of entrepreneurship,” he said.
The MPM steering committee for Onna has the National Assembly Member representing Eket/Esit-Eket/Ibeno/Onna Federal Constituency, Mr. Patrick Ifon, as Coordinator and the Member representing Onna State Constituency, Mr. Nse Essien, is the Deputy Coordinator.
The Chief Protocol Officer to the governor, Mr Edmund Ufang, is the Secretary.
