When Udom, Ekere embrace peace ahead of 2019 polls
With the next general election around the corner, all eyes are now on the key political actors from all the leading parties to see how their actions would engender peace and stability in the country aside the veracity of their campaign promises.
In Akwa Ibom State, the two main political parties that are fielding candidates for the elections appear set and their governorship candidates have since presented themselves to be elected.
However, one of the issues of concern has been the security of lives and property and the need for an atmosphere of peace in the state with a population of less than six million people.
While Governor Udom Emmanuel of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is seeking a second term, his main opponent, Nsima Ekere of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is making the third attempt to be elected as governor.
Though they may have shown some level of commitment towards peace, their supporters and loyalists have tended to stoke political tension in the state through their actions and utterances, particularly on the social media.
Interestingly, Emmanuel and Ekere are from the same senatorial district of Akwa Ibom South, they have also been active players in the private sector and are also from the same ethnic nationality with many followers.
However, in recent times, the political atmosphere in the state has been so charged that many had feared that the existing peace in the state was being threatened.
So, when Emmanuel and Ekere met recently in Uyo, the state capital, during a programme organised by the Catholic Diocese of Uyo, it turned out to be the moment everybody may have been waiting for. And the question that was on the lips of many was whether they would trade tantrums or exchange pleasantries or seek to promote corporate rather than personal interest.
Indeed, the two politicians and governorship candidates of the two parties did not disappoint and they made good use of being in God’s presence during the programme by the Catholic Church.
For Governor Emmanuel, it was the best opportunity to embrace his opponent, having felt the inner peace and God’s presence.
“As we go into elections this year, let the God of peace grant us peace. I join my faith with all Christians; this is a Christian state. May we enjoy peaceful and transparent election in Jesus name.
On his part, Ekere thanked the Catholic Church for hosting them and re-echoed the need for peace as key to development during and after the elections.
“All I am saying is that you (the Catholic Church) must continue to pray for Akwa Ibom State because at the end of the day, all that we have is Akwa Ibom State. It’s not about APC. It’s not about PDP. It’s about Akwa Ibom State.
“And you know that God knows the end from the beginning. So, even as we stand here, God knows who the next governor will be. And so, all we have to do as Christians is to continue to pray. So, please, pray for us, Sir (Bishop), pray for the political process. We need peace and we need security. We do not need to spill the blood of any Akwa Ibom child in the course of these elections.
“I want to thank God for the peaceful coexistence of people in Akwa Ibom State. I want to thank God for what we enjoy today and Paul Apostle said, ‘We are many in this city’ because there are so many Christians praying for us. That is why we are enjoying this peace.
“I want to thank Christians for praying to God to watch over Akwa Ibom State. The world exists today because there is a church. I want to thank God for all of us. I want to thank God for this Conference.
“Let me also say here, I want to join my faith with what my brother has said at the end of the day, it is not about us. It is about the soul of the state. It is about the destiny of this state. Whatsoever we do today as government, it is for the destiny of Akwa Ibom State.
“Everything we do in this state today is about the future of our own children. We promised Akwa Ibom people that we will not prepare the children for the future but also prepare the future for our children. What we do today is about sustainable development preparing the future for our children.”
Indeed, it was a pleasant surprise to see the two antagonists come together and embrace each other at a time political tension has almost reached a feverish pitch in the state.
Furthermore, it seems to reaffirm the adage that ‘election is no war’ and more importantly that a united Akwa Ibom would be good for all.
It now behooves the supporters of the two candidates to follow the example of their leaders by embracing each other despite their political differences, do more to tone down their rhetoric on the elections and then pursue actions that would engender peace and development of the state.