Akwa Ibom monarchs kick against attacks on governor over election

The Akwa Ibom state council of chiefs has condemned the attacks on Udom Emmanuel, the governor, over his second term in office.

In a statement, the monarchs said those castigating the election which brought Emmanuel into office are only chasing shadows.

The apex traditional rulers’ council said it is totally for a process that was free, fair, transparent and acceptable to be canvassed for annulment.

The statement was signed by Nteyin Solomon D. Etuk, Nteyin Nsit, Ubium local government are (LGA)GA, Edidem Udo, edidem Ikot Abasi LGA and Uwah Adiaka III, Ekporikpo Obot Akara LGA.

“Our attention has been drawn to series of political verbosities launched ceaselessly against the conduct of the 2019 Gubernatorial/State House of Assembly and National Assembly Polls held respectively on Saturday, February 23, 2019 and Saturday, March 09, 2019 in Akwa Ibom State,” the statement read.

“Most worrisome about the aforesaid scenario, is the banal assertion that the elections as conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which we participated and witnessed as being totally free, fair, transparent and acceptable across the length and breadth of Akwa Ibom State could today be suddenly criticized as being a farce. What manner of politics would this be? That a celebrated processes which were upheld within the State and beyond our shores, could, for want of political relevance, be canvassed for annulment? This is simply absurd and must be totally condemned.

“As traditional fathers, who are the custodians of the norms, values and conscience of our people, our sacred positions and duties demand that we rise to give our wise counsel least our subjects suffocate themselves in a mindless political fire that would likely harm the peace, progress, unity and development which we have witnessed greatly in the last couple of years.

“We have often advised that those who volunteer to partake in politics should cultivate the spirit of sportsmanship so that it will not be difficult for them to accept electoral outcomes and to abide by the results, irrespective of who wins. Democracy is built upon the will of the people.”

The royal fathers urged all persons and parties irrespective of political leanings to respect the victory of the governor and the other winners of the state and national assembly polls.

The council advised aggrieved persons to employ extant laws in pleading cases in court rather than “hanging out in the public domain by using the media to misguide the gullible public and by extension muzzle the court away from the facts tendered” which it said “is completely an aberration and a deliberate ploy to steal the will of the people.”

The council said that “As traditional rulers, who played key roles for the creation of Akwa Ibom in 1987, “we remain irrevocably committed to the peace, unity and progress of the State” and called on all hands to be on deck towards building a prosperous and united Akwa Ibom State”.