2023 Elections: Peace Advocacy Group tasks Akwa Ibom people to act as Peace Ambassadors
As the 2023 election gathers momentum, a Non – Governmental Organization, Peace Advocacy Group (PAG), has called on its members and the entire Akwa Ibom people to act as peace ambassadors in their domain, to ensure sustenance of peace at all times.
The national coordinator of the group, Engr Aniekan James Unah, stated this during a press conference organised by Peace Advocacy Group (PAG), last weekend at Tantalizers Conference Hall, Abak Road, Uyo.
Unah said the people of Akwa Ibom State have found peace among themselves and stressed the need to maintain peace in every fiber of their beings.
“”Our people have found peace amongst themselves, peace has seen us tap into our creative wealth and our people are now embracing the entrepreneurial culture, especially the youths and they must maintain this peace with every fiber of their being.
“Any one, who for selfish political purposes, wants to reverse this peace, must, and should be rejected. Anyone who aims to grab power through the instrument of violence must be stopped and rejected.
“Anyone who aims at getting power by using violence against his or her people, will end up ruling with violence. May our dear state never go through such politically – motivated years of violence again”, he said.
The group, however, condemned in strong terms, a situation where some people will always indulge in criticising the political leaders of bad governance and said it should be discouraged. They rather stressed the need for all well meaning and peace loving people of Akwa Ibom State to register and obtain their permanent voter cards (PVCs), which they said will enable them elect credible leaders in the up coming general elections.
The group maintained that those to be elected into positions of authority, ought to be people oriented leaders, whose personal interest will not override the collective interest of the people and whose primary objective is to sustain the peace enjoyed in Akwa Ibom in the past seven years, as well as provision of adequate security of lives and property, in line with the vision of Governor Udom Emmanuel, adding that only aspirants with such vision should be taken seriously.
They further enjoined youths of voting age who are yet to register in the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise in the state, to take advantage of the opportunity by getting enrolled, if they must put in place the right leadership that will sustain the peace enjoyed in the state at present.
They also encouraged all indigenes of Akwa Ibom State to be more involved in the electoral processes that will produce impeccable leaders, whose intent is to make Akwa Ibom State an industrial hub, which entrepreneural businesses and investments will be able to thrive and this, they noted will further guarantee massive employment opportunities, which in effect, will enhance good standard of living of the teaming youths in the state.
The group challenged youths, who are often said to be leaders of tomorrow to make good use of the opportunity of the continuous voters registration exercise to go get their PVCs, in readiness to elect leaders who will provide the needed enabling learning environment for children in the state.
The Peace Advocacy Group, in line with its vision statement, called on all Akwa Ibomites to go out in large numbers to locate their polling units and get registered within their locality and maintained that Akwa Ibom can only continue to be great, if committed christians, especially those with the fear of God and high credibility should be elected to lead at different levels in the state.
