By Emeka Samuel
Members of the Akwa Ibom state council of chiefs has congratulated Governor Udom Emmanuel on his successful reelection and appealed to him to be magnanimous in victory.
The Royal fathers who described the conduct of the gubernatorial/state house of assembly polls of Saturday, March 09, 2019 as commendable and very successful maintained that it was credible and devoid of any impartiality.
In a press statement issued at the end of their extraordinary meeting weekend in Uyo the state capital endorsed by the paramount ruler of Ini and Chairman State Council of Chiefs HRM Edidem(Dr) Ntoeng Effiong Akpan among others, urge Governor Emmanuel not to view the opposition as enemies but as necessary elements in governance under the democratic dispensation
” We are therefore very glad today that that Governorship/State House of Assembly polls ended very peacefully and the processes associated with the conduct of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) done with obvious impartiality as it was free, fair, transparent, credible and acceptable.
“We hereby congratulate the Governor-elect, His Excellency, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and urge him to be magnanimous in victory. As elders, we are very pleased with the conciliatory tone of his victory speech, which proclaimed that he will do justice to all, with malice to none”. They said
The Royal fathers said the outcome of the election was a true reflection of the desire of the Akwa Ibom people.
”We believe that the wishes of the people of Akwa Ibom State have been made manifest and therefore must be respected by all. As often said in Latin; Vox Populi Vox Dei (the voice of the people is the voice of God), let the outcome be taken without bad feelings.
“Those wishes which emanated from the ballot must not be subverted or twisted by any person, indigenous or exogenous. As Christians, we have to accept the basic reality that power comes from God and He gives it to whosoever; he pleases (Psalm 62:11).
“The opposition must not be viewed as enemies but as necessary elements in governance under the democratic dispensation. We also congratulate all National and State Assembly members who were successful at the polls. We urge them to be united in the pursuit of the Akwa Ibom State project and the Nation at large. They must eschew selfishness and embrace unity and peaceful disposition.”
The Royal fathers also commended INEC, the security personnel and the Federal Government for superintending over such a critical process, creditably in Akwa Ibom state.
