A’Ibom 2023: No Aspirant Can Win Elections With Violence — Gov. Emmanuel

…Warn detractors against giving the state bad image with false, unverified reports

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has urged all aspirants seeking elective offices in 2023 in the state to resist the urged of using violence as a political tool to clinching power as the electorate having experienced peace in the last six years are poised to reject any candidate who tries to derail the prevailing peace in the State.

The Governor who stated this on Sunday at a Special Interdenominational Solemn Assembly to rededicate the state to God and usher in year 2022, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Uyo, called on Akwa Ibom to thank God for sustaining the state through challenges in recent years.

He cautioned persons aspiring for political office in 2023 not to heat up the polity, but rather go about it peacefully in order not to disrupt the peace and development in the state, adding that God in due time will reveal his successor

‘’This year all those who seek political office in 2023 will seek in peace and people should also realize that even if there are up to 100 people there is only one seat and one man will sit and as the homily said no matter what we do it is only the Lord’s council that shall stand’’, he stated.

Governor Emmanuel who rededicated the state to God, attributed the rising profile of Akwa Ibom State’s development and prevailing peace to God’s unfailing mercies and guidance.

He acknowledged the peace and development witnessed over the years in state, stated that the development attained in the state had been a collective contributions of illustrious sons of the state, assuring that in line with the theme of 2022, ‘There Shall be a Performance’ God will prosper the state in the new year.

In his words, “Every year we gather like this to seek the face of God, this State as we all know belongs to God that is why I refer to Akwa Ibom in my speeches as God’s own piece of real estate.

“God is the great and mighty warrior who has never disappointed us as a state over the years through His love mercy and guidance which is why we have come here collectively as a people and as a state to thank Him for allowing us see the year 2022, for what He has done and what He will continue to do”

‘’What has happened in this state is what I call imprimatur of God’s invisible hands; from the peace and development to the rising profile of our state as a destination of choice for investors, conferences to the sectoral achievements we have recorded which has earned us the national acclaim Nigeria’s best kept secret. There is no doubt that God is doing great and mighty thing in the state’’.

He reiterated his commitment in delivering on his promises, stating that with some challenges earlier witnessed from climate change to other unforeseen issues all developmental projects in the state will be completed.

Hear him, ‘’The year 2021 was a difficult one from the harvests of deaths that we had to the manifestation of what scientists call climate change. People will agree with me that we have never seen such a rainfall like that of last year and the attendant delay of most of our road construction and other infrastructural expansion. We thank God that in spite of these factors coupled with the Covid-19, we have remained totally focus in fulfilling our governance obligations to the best of the resources available’’

He however called on Akwa Ibom people to take responsibility towards building the state. The governor who took the only Bible reading from Isaiah 60: 1-6, also led in Offertory Procession alongside Deputy Governor, Speaker Akwa Ibom House of Assembly and Secretary to the State Government.

In a related development, Governor Udom Emmanuel has called on all Akwa Ibom people to remain hopeful, trusting God for better days in the state and country at large.
Speaking on Saturday, during a New Year Worship Service at Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion Diocese of Uyo, the Governor who was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel and family, some State Executive Council members, welcomed Akwa Ibom people into year 2022 with the optimism that the state and country will evade the challenges faced in 2021.

He noted that in line with the theme of the state in 2022, ‘There Shall be a Performance’, God will reveal his successor in due time, adding that whoever God reveals as his successor will have the same confirmation without confusion.

‘’Our theme as a state is that ‘There Shall Be a Performance’ of what the Lord has told me as a governor, as a leader and if what God is telling you is different from what He is telling me it means it is not from God, it could be a personal opinion.

“But this year shall be a year of that performance of what God has told me including my successor. So if anybody mentions anything to you know that it is not from God it can’t be different from who God has told me and shown unto me”, he stated.

The Governor advised detractors to desist from giving the state a bad image from peddling unverified reports and rumours on social media, pointing out that with the current trend of issues in the country, it calls for appreciation and gratitude to God for blessing the state especially throughout what the nation went through in 2020 and 2021.

Hear him, “What is happening in our state, a lot of people may not understand, Jesus Christ said hereinafter you will understand. A lot of people may not understand and we can pardon them, because so many people that write and talk in the social media, some of them are never exposed to what is happening around the globe so when they see things instead of giving thanks and all the glory to God, they say things that will not glorify God.”

Governor Emmanuel thanked the Anglican Communion Church, Uyo Diocese for their fervent prayers for the state and redeemed a pledge of N10 million in support of the building project of the Bishop’s house, and also donated a bus for Anglican Communion, Uyo Diocese Choir.

In his homily, the Bishop, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Uyo Diocese, Rev. Prince Antai, who titled his message, ‘Faith that Activates God’s Promises’, culled his text from Gen: 12: 1- 3, enjoined Christian believers to live a life of obedience to God’s word and faith which will bring the will of God to pass.

‘’Faith is the ability to believe God without questioning God. When you obey God you will prosper, through the dark tunnel of obedience, the light shall shine. There is a specific miracle for those who obey God.”