Date Published: 03/31/10

Let peace reign in Akwa Ibom By CHIEF MAURICE EKPENYONG CO-ORDINATOR, FRIENDS OF GODWILL AKPABIO (FOGAN), RIVERS STATE CHAPTER

For any meaningful and sustainable development to thrive very well in place, peace must not be seen as a phenomenon that alternative. In that wise, we the friends of Godwill Akpbio (FOGAN) want to use this medium to admonish our leaders and the led in the state to ignore ethnic chauvinism, sentiment and engaging themselves in political vendetta, which it allow to continue will lead the state to chaotic situation. When this happens the people of Akwa Ibom State will be worst off. Because in the cause of dissipating their energy in fighting a war of attrition amongst, themselves, development will be relegated to the back ground and her citizens will become pauperized.

We want to be part of the main stream of the Nigeria expression hence we allied ourselves with the most dynamic and action oriented party of the People Democratic Part Fame (PDP). And this party is known for settling their political difference in an “in house setting” of which have worked very well for them to correct some observed anomalies among the party members. I’m therefore flabbergasted, or in the wilderness of confusion to see that our leaders, past and present who all are members of our great political party, “PDP” are not making use of the benefit of the hindsight of this in house setting in settling issues affecting the state by these party members.

Let it be know to all and sundry, whether you are Ibibio man or Anang man or Oron man, as an elder state man, fanning the ember of problems or crises by taking side by means of ethnic chauvinism, and sentiment will do us no good. Ethnicity is irrelevant in the contemporary leadership most especially for our state that is built on tripod of three ethnic nationalities. The elders of the state should try not to live a life pretence.

We the FOGAN therefore ask all warring factions to sheath their sword and embrace dialogue because no battle is ever won at the battle field expect all the way through dialogue after life and properties have been destroyed and wasted. We strongly appeal to our leaders not to allow what is happening in some of the states of the federation, where the elders because of their perceptions of leadership based on ethnicity pitches one cultural nationality against the other irrespective of the fact that they have co-habited for years.

These discrepancies have led to the destabilization of the peace process and have since affected the economic, religious and socio-political life of the people to extent that nothing works there now. If not because of the benevolent attitude of Federal Government, she would have long declared state of emergence there going by the magnitude of destruction of live and property.

We in FOGAN, Rivers State Chapter. We believe that our past leaders have all done well to have sown the seed of development in the state. The Development are visible in every facet of our amiable digital, executive, Governor Chief (DR) Godswill Obot Akpabio to water the germinated seed of development to maturity. And in this direction he’s very much on course. Since he came into the office, he abandoned projects have all be completed. Life have been made easier for parents and the aged in the state.

Above all we are no longer regarded as second hand citizens by being house maid, Okada riders etc. please, Elders let peace reign in the state so that we can move the state forward. His Excellency the executive Governor Chief (DR) Godswill Obot Akpabio have not deviated at all from moving the state. Be that as it may, it is my candid opinion that come 2011, His Excellency the executive Governor Chief (Dr)Godswill Obot Akpabio should be allowed to continue with his enviable style of Governance at the Hilltop Government house.