SIR: Events happening in some communities of Akwa Ibom State in recent times have, once again, called for serious concern by all, in view of our peculiar history.
 
The space of cultism clashes and other untoward acts on the state have thrown up the greater need for all indigenes within and outside of the state to be more introspective, retrospective and proactive on the issue of cultists disturbing in some communities, to mention a few, Mbiabong, Etoi and Uyo local council areas, where people have been recently killed.
 
I am calling for a collective responsibility of the indigenes to wake up and say NO to these unproductive elements. I am appealing to all traditional rulers, state House Assembly representative of Etoi/Offot Constituency, Nsikan Bassey, and the entire House concerning these cultists and be prepared to flush them out of our system. We also must be able to confront these problems head on without brewing sentiments and emotions.
 
In the event of allowing this sect operates within the state, no company will operate and as such, can hinder meaningful development in the state. To curb this ugly trend in the state, let all traditional rulers, political office holders and media houses speak with one voice to condemn the acts and say no to cultism. The Boko Haram started as a very minute sect but has since spread across the entire Northern states, with hope of invasion across and beyond the North, East as well as South zones.
 
I appeal for all hands to be on deck. We Akwa Ibomites should not allow ugly and unproductive sects to operate anymore, that the land promised by God himself will be for good and not otherwise. As we know, life is like a supermarket, it’s the price you put on products that people pay. If you put a price of low value on yourself, that’s all you will get.
 
Let us all arise to condemn this ugly sect operating in our state once and for all.
 God bless Akwa Ibom State and God bless Nigeria.
Effiong Edeson, FCI, ACIPURS, is the president of Nka Ibibio, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base branch, Ikeja, Lagos.