Ahead of the forthcoming Akwa Ibom State Local Government Elections, Governor Udom Emmanuel has warned that his Government will not tolerate any form of blackmail and threat to the security of lives and properties in the state.
Fielding questions from Government House Reporters on arrival from official assignment in Abuja, Governor Emmanuel sounded a note of warning to people who are out to foment crisis in the state in the name of politics.
“We are trying to maintain peace in the state, whoever disrupts the peace, the law will deal with that person.”
The Governor maintained that no one ever gets into power through blackmail, and advised Local Government Chairmanship Aspirants to exercise patience pending the outcome of a proposed stakeholders’ meeting on the impending election.
“We want to run a very free, transparent and fair election, let people not cause any disruption in the system; everybody should wait until when we blow the whistle.
The Governor, who has repeatedly reiterated his belief in zoning, warned aspirants not favoured by zoning in their respective intending positions to eschew rancor and withdraw peacefully from the race.
“No matter who you are, we must abide by the zoning and we want to go with the popular candidate that everybody will be satisfied with”.
Explaining further, Mr Emmanuel said that the zoning principle goes beyond the political party as it affected the respective Local Governments as well as the entire state.
“It is not a PDP matter, as far as Akwa Ibom is concerned, we want peace and that’s all. You must not govern at all cost, you must not be a Local Government Chairman at all cost,” he chided.
On the economic and security council meeting in Abuja, Governor Emmanuel said the nine-hour security summit, assessed the security structure of the country with far reaching decisions.
The meeting, he maintained, showed the passion of the acting president, service chiefs and the entire country towards securing lives and properties in Nigeria.
