Emmanuel preaches peace, unity among Akwa Ibom people

Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom on Friday urged the people to live in peace and unite for the development of the state

Emmanuel made the plea at the funeral of Edidem Akpabio Ukpa, paramount ruler of Onna Local Government Area of the state.

He said the passage of the patriarch should foster unity among stakeholders irrespective of political affiliation.

“Let me use this platform to say something must always happen for unity to entrench and let the death of our colossus, a giant among men bring about total unity in Akwa Ibom,” he said.

He urged the people to work hard to bring about dividends of democracy in the state.

“A good fight is a fight when we are supposed to stand as one, you write petitions against the progress of the state.

“A good fight must recognise when politics is over and time for governance.

“A good fight must be recognised when we must live political parties and think of the future generation of our children.

“A good fight should be able to earn our youths a living and not begging for a living, ” Emmanuel said.

He said the late monarch of Onna would be immortalised and the stadium in the local government named after him.

“This ground today that is serving as the temporary site of the stadium for Onna local government shall formally be called Edidem Dr. Akpabio Ukpa stadium.

“This kind of man, his name can never be allowed to vanish, ” Emmanuel said.

The Governor said that the monarch was a great man that contributed socially, economically, politically and brought development to the community.

“We lost in you a father, we have lost in you a gem, we have lost in you a colossus we have lost in you a voice, ” the governor said.

It was reported that the late monarch died at the age of 93 years on March 11.