By Emeka Samuel
President and founder of the Umai Ukapai Evangelistic Association,
Uyo, Rev Dr Umai Ukpai has predicted that there would be peaceful
elections devoid of violence and bloodbath in the state.
This followed tension that have engulfed the state following recent
crisis at the state House of Assembly and between the two dominant
political parties in the area creating fear created in the minds of
the people the election would not be held in a peaceful atmosphere in
the area.
Ukpai told journalists on Thursday in Uyo, that he was not worried
about the political crisis in the state and that it would not affect
the conduct of polls next year in the area.
“I don’t see crisis anywhere, and I don’t think I will escalates to
anywhere. The two factions are made of Christians who have respect for
human lives and who also believes in prayers and we believe where the
bible say love your neighbour as you love yourself
“ It is our duty and responsibility to love even our worse enemies, I
cannot describe the situation in Akwa Ibom state as crisis situation
because as far as there is opposition there will always be crisis. But
then I want to remind them that you can’t kill and expect to rule over
dead men.”
He advised politicians to eschew violence during and after the
election and not to take the laws into their hands adding that the
blood of Nigerians should not be spilled because of the ambition of
somebody.
On continued killing of innocent Nigerians by herdsmen Ukpai
maintained that only prayers by Christians in the country would
address the situation adding that such prayers had kept the crisis
from escalating.
He however regretted that the Federal Government is yet to bring to an
end the menace by the herdsmen calling on President Muhammadu Buhari
to do something urgent to stop the shedding of innocent blood
especially in the North Eastern part of the country.
He said that he still believe in the future of Nigeria even as he
added that in the midst of ethnic and political tensions something
good could still be salvaged from the country.
“I still believe in the unity and that there is a future for Nigeria,
despite our problems something can still be salvaged from Nigeria. The
blood of Nigerians that has been shed cannot just go like that.” He
said.
He said that in line with his tradition of using prayers to address
the problems of the country and individual, the Umai Ukpai
Evangelistic Association would this month organize a prayer and
healing summit in Uyo as part of activities to round up its events for
the year.
The programme which would cost over N50 million to organize he said
would attract many men of God including a former President of the
Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritshajafor, Rev Ntia
Ntia and many other men of God.
