Political leaders from the 12 local government areas of Eket senatorial district of Akwa Ibom state have called on elders and stakeholders from Uyo and Ikot Ekpene senatorial to desist from inciting comments and actions that could trigger unnecessary heat in the state.
They have also maintained that the current progress and development in the state under the leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel, can only be sustained if the three geo-political zones maintain their support and cooperation to the administration.
In a 10-paragraph resolution reached at the end of an emergency meeting in Eket titled, TOEING THE PATH OF PEACE AND HARMONY IN AKWA IBOM STATE, the leaders decried the ongoing war of words in a section of the media, saying these were “at variance with our communal disposition as a people of the same family.”
The Eket leaders who maintained that there is no misunderstanding between Governor Udom Emmanuel and Senator Godswill Akpabio said further, “Having noted the concerns raised in different quarters, we have a firm belief that except caution is applied, and calm restored, we may end up collapsing all the gains we had united to build as a state in the last couple of years.”
Contrary to speculations, they maintained that Senator Akpabio had since gotten clarity from Governor Emmanuel on the issues he had raised adding that it was only detractors that were fuelling the issue.
They maintained, “that it took the collective support of our elders, stakeholders and people from Uyo and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial districts to ensure the emergence of our son, His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel as Governor in 2015.”
Referring to the period of legal tussle in the tribunal leading to the supreme court, they also reasoned that, “when the whirlwind and political storm rose their ugly fangs, our collective backing and contributions were firm. The enemies of the state were disappointed and their plans to upturn all we had laboured to build were grounded.”
The release signed by 22 leaders from the district, including the chairman of forum, Chief Nduese Essien, Secretary, Barr. Akpadiaha Ebitu and the two deputy chairmen of the forum, Sir Obot Etukafia and Dr Esio Okwong Udoh, the deputy speaker, Mrs Felicia Bassey, the state secretary of the party, Harrison Ekpo,
The leaders recounted that Eket Senatorial district “was grossly cheated in the distribution of infrastructure, appointments etc by the two previous administrations despite our undisputed contribution to the revenue of the State.”
This neglect, they maintained, did not however distract them from supporting those previous administrations, and demanded the other two senatorial districts to lend full support to the governor.