Udom charges indigenes to maintain peace in Christmas message

Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has called on indigenes and residents, to jealousy guide and maintain the peace the state has enjoyed in the past six years, as they roll out their drums to celebrate the 2021 Christmas and new year festivities.

This advice was contained in his Christmas broadcast to the people of the state to mark the 2021 Christmas celebrations.

He appealed to the people to remember that the dreaded pandemic known as Covid19 was still around, charging all to ensure that all necessary protocols are strictly followed and adhered to.

“As we get set to roll out the drums of festivities, let me again reiterate the need for us to follow the simple but effective protocols aimed at curtailing the spread of the Covid- 19 virus. You may have been following in the news the mutation of a new variant called Omicron. At a time the world thought we had turned a corner with this virus, this Omicron variant has returned the world to the starting point. Travel restrictions are being imposed all over the world and some countries have painfully considered another round of lockdowns.

“Here in Nigeria, and in our State in particular, we have discovered some cases of this Omicron variant and it is incumbent upon us, to do all we can to curtail its spread. The simple protocols of social distancing, regular washing of hands with liquid soaps, the wearing of facemask, use of hand sanitizers etc. plus the robust healthcare facilities we have provided, had helped us a great deal in stemming the spread of this virus when it first appeared on our shores. We should remain committed to doing the same with this new variant.

“We do not intend to impose another round of lock-down. This will, however, depend on how we obey the protocols. This is a serious matter and should be treated as such. This is a season where we should banish all ancient animosities and celebrate our oneness and unity, our development, and the strides we are collectively making as a State and as a people.

“The season of the Birth of our Lord and Saviour signifies peace and goodwill to mankind, and this peace which we have enjoyed in this State shall be permanent, and any resort or attempts to reverse it and reintroduce the orgy of violence and security challenges that this State had earlier witnessed before now, will, and shall never return.

The governor going through memory lane observed that Nigeria as a country was facing a lot of insecurity, but thank God that, Akwa Ibom in the same country was seen as one of the most peaceful, stressing, “Our people have found peace amongst themselves. Peace has seen us tap into our creative wells and the entrepreneurial culture is being embraced by our people, especially the youths. We must maintain this peace with every fiber of our beings.

“Anyone, and I repeat anyone, who, for selfish political purposes, wants to reverse this peace, must, and will be rejected, anyone who aims to grab power through the instrument of violence must be stopped and rejected.

“And let me even add, anyone who aims at getting power by using violence against his or her people will end up ruling with violence. May the season of peace which Christmas represents, never see our State go through such politically-motivated years of violence again.

According to the governor, the Christmas felicitations were not to reel out his achievements, but added, “we will, however, continue to ensure that issues concerning education, agriculture, health care or the social infrastructure are given the prime attention they deserve. We owe our children the responsibility of preparing them to be competitive in an information technology-driven world; we owe them the right education to make them future employers of labor, as opposed to being job seekers. The new world that is unfolding before us, is one where students learn and imbibe entrepreneurial spirit and skills, aimed at freeing them to explore the world and take a slice of it, through the marketable skills they have acquired.

“We remain committed to ensuring that we produce, and at an affordable price, the staple food items for our people, through the robust investments we have made in agriculture”.

He, therefore, charged the people of the state to put into practice the real essence of Christmas which is that of love and giving.

“Reach out to those who need help. Give them a reason to be cheerful and hopeful, share in the blessings God has given you, and help spread the Christmas cheers and joy”.