Akwa Ibom people have been enjoined to find comfort in the shared commitment to unity

Akwa Ibom people have been enjoined to find comfort in the shared commitment to unity and find strength in a common aspiration for a greater State.

Governor Godswill Akpabio who gave this advice Friday in his radio and television broadcast marking this year's Easter celebration, said “Let those who seek to divide us with politics be reminded that Christ said it was through loving one another that one can prove himself as being a true disciple.

The Governor remarked “Let the lessons of Easter, therefore, inspire us to make sacrifices for the unity and progress of our State and Nation. Let the life and teachings of Jesus Christ inspire us to strive for a world knit together by love, and a State bonded in brotherhood and a nation united in diversity. As Easter stands out as a perfect example of unconditional love, let us give unconditional love to our neighbors and share love with the less privileged”.

He pointed out “Let us think in terms of what we can do for our State and not what the State can do for us. Let us think in terms of justice, fairness and equity in this season of politics”.

Akpabio recalled that “In the last eight years I have run the race, fought a good fight of faith and I am set to complete my course. In all these years, I have sought to let all Akwa Ibom people come together not as Ibibio or Annang or Orobut as brothers and sisters and children of God. I have sought to let the example of Christ's love for us remain the foundation of our unity”.

According to him, “The lesson of Easter was recently brought home to Nigerians by the statesmanlike action of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, when he opted to concede the Presidential election in the public interest even before the announcement of the final result, saying “By this act, Mr. President has resurrected morality, good conscience, patriotism and goodwill for our country”.

Akpabio commended Mr. President for this powerful national lesson during this season of love and sacrifice, admitting that “He lived up to his vow that no ambition was worth anybody's blood. We should bear this in mind as we prepare to elect our next governor on April 11, 2015”.

The governor noted that “The true Akwa Ibom spirit of loyalty was tested in the Presidential Election and we acquitted ourselves creditably. We were with the President right down to the finishing line and we are proud that we turned in close to a million votes for the President. We are proud of his performance and proud of our support for him. This nation now knows that we have no place in this blessed Land of Promise for the Judas Iscariots.

While thanking Akwa Ibom people for electing their representatives to the Senate and the House of Representatives, he noted that the echoes of our principled stance that justice should be done to the good people of Eket Senatorial District, who have not tasted the gubernatorial office in 27 years of our State's existence, should ring louder in this season of love, justice and sacrifice, admonishing “Let us play politics of inclusion and not exclusion in order to give all parts of our dear state a sense of belonging in the Akwa Ibom project”.

Akpabio urged Nigerians, particularly Akwa Ibom people, to remain united in spite of the outcome of the past elections and to face the forthcoming elections with great hope, advising “As we go out to vote, let us remember that what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander.

“Let us show love to our brothers and sisters from Eket Senatorial District by giving them the opportunity to taste what we from Uyo and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial Districts have tasted already. There is no greater way to show love that is consistent with the spirit of Easter than to exhibit this sense of equity and fairness to our brothers and sisters from Eket Senatorial District”, the governor added.