Udom asks A’Ibom residents to reject violent politicians

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has advised indigenes and residents of the state to maintain the peace the state has enjoyed in the past six years, as they celebrate the 2021 Christmas and New Year.

The advice was contained in his Christmas broadcast to the people of the state to mark 2021 Yuletide season. He appealed to the people to remember that COVID-19 was still around and urged all to ensure necessary protocols were followed and adhered to.

He warned desperate politicians, who may want to scuttle the peaceful nature of the state to, jettison such, advising the people to reject any of such persons.

He said: “As we get set to roll out the drums of festivities, let me again reiterate the need for us to follow the simple but effective protocols aimed at curtailing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. You may have been following in the news of the mutation of a new variant called Omicron. At a time the world thought we had turned a corner with this virus, this Omicron variant has returned the world to the starting point. Travel restrictions are being imposed all over the world and some countries have painfully considered another round of lockdowns.

“Here in Nigeria, and in our state in particular, we have discovered some cases of this Omicron variant and it is incumbent upon us, to do all we can to curtail its spread. The simple protocols of social distancing, regular washing of hands with liquid soaps, the wearing of facemask, use of hand sanitisers, plus the robust healthcare facilities we have provided, had helped us a great deal in stemming the spread of this virus when it first appeared on our shores. We should remain committed to doing same with this new variant.”

He, however, said the state would not impose another lockdown if residents obey existing protocols, describing it a serious matter that should be treated as such. He also urged citizens to banish all ancient animosities and celebrate oneness and unity to sustain development in the state.

“The season of the birth of our Lord and Saviour signifies peace and goodwill to mankind, and this peace, which we have enjoyed in this state shall be permanent, and any resort or attempt to reverse it and reintroduce the orgy of violence and security challenges that this state had earlier witnessed before now, will, and shall never return,” he said.

The governor noted that Nigeria has been facing insecurity but Akwa Ibom has remained one of the most peaceful, stressing, “Our people have found peace amongst themselves. Peace has seen us tap into our creative wells and our people are embracing the entrepreneurial culture, especially the youth. We must maintain this peace with every fibre of our beings.

“Any one, and I repeat anyone, who, for selfish political purposes, wants to reverse this peace, must, and will be rejected, anyone who aims to grab power through the instrument of violence must be stopped and rejected.

“And let me even add, anyone who aims at getting power by using violence against his or her people, will end up ruling with violence. May the season of peace which Christmas represents, never see our state go through such politically-motivated years of violence again.”

He assured the people that he would continue to ensure that issues concerning education, agriculture, healthcare or the social infrastructure are given the prime attention they deserve towards making children and youths competitive in an information technology-driven world.

“We owe them the right education to make them future employers of labour, as opposed to being jobseekers. The new world that is unfolding before us, is one where students learn and imbibe entrepreneurial spirit and skills, aimed at freeing them to explore the world and take a slice of it, through the marketable skills they have acquired.

“We remain committed to ensuring that we produce at an affordable price, the staple food items for our people, through robust investments we have made in agriculture.”