Joe Effiong, Uyo

The youth wing of the Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, known as the Ukai of Ibibio Nation of Akwa Ibom State, has expressed its concern over the post-election tension that has enveloped the state.

Consequently, the group has advised all those who contested the last round of the elections to sheath their swords instead of causing a distraction in the governance of the state through litigation and sponsored media attacks on the winners of the elections.

The group while addressing a press conference in Uyo on Friday, equally advised the winners, especially Gov. Udom Emmanuel to “lead the state as the governor of Akwa Ibom State and not the governor of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“We are here to plead that elections have come and gone; everybody should sheath their sword; all hands should be on deck for the sake of peace and development of our dear state.”

The group’s statement which was read by its leader, Etubom, Ukai  Udeme Emmanuel, said: “Today,  we are concerned by recent developments  in the polity bought about by some politicians to cause distractions in the governance of Akwa Ibom State, through litigations and sponsored media attacks on the winners of the just-concluded presidential, gubernatorial, senatorial, federal and state constituency elections.

“We plead with them to please incorporate all candidates who contested the election with them to tap from their ideas which they had in their blueprints towards the betterment of the state. To achieve the much talk-about unity in Akwa Ibom State, we also lend our voice to His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel, to spread his industrialisation and other development projects across the three senatorial districts and, moreover, the three major ethnic groups in the state,” the Uka Ibibio said.

The group thanked the governor for the construction of a magnificent  building at Asan Ibibio for the Ibibio people, and for the show of respect to the stool of the Ntisong Ibibio and Oku Ibom Ibibio, just as they praised the Ntisong Ibibio for his royal blessings on the governor, which they believed had contributed  to the governor’s victory at the polls.

While commending the Ibibio leaders for working with the leaders of other ethnic groups to sustain the unity among the Ibibio, Annang and Oron nations through agreed zoning of the governorship of the state among the three senatorial districts, a process that has so far brought peace, the socio-cultural group specifically thanked the three major ethnic groups for abiding by the senatorial accord to ensure that Gov Emmanuel returned to complete his second term.

The Ukai Ibibio congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Emmanuel, all the senatorial, House of Representatives and state Assembly candidates on their victory at the polls.