…Warns political actors against thuggery
By Timothy Ekpo
Uyo
The Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has called on leaders of the various political parties, candidates, youths, security agencies, to commit themselves to violence-free elections come 2027, warning that no political ambition is worth sacrificing the peace, unity and future of the State.
The governor made the call recently while declaring open a two-day statewide seminar on Violence-Free Elections at Ibom Hall, Uyo.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi , the Governor urged stakeholders to conduct their political activities in ways that preserve relationships, protect lives and property, and strengthen the State’s democratic culture, stressing that political opponents should not be treated as enemies.
The Governor noted that belonging to different political parties did not make Akwa Ibom people less united, and reminded political actors that after elections, citizens would continue to live together, worship together, trade together, raise their children in the same communities and share a common destiny.
He charged political leaders and candidates to demonstrate leadership through their language and conduct, warning against divisive rhetoric, incitement and the mobilisation of youths for violence.
According to him, “young people deserve opportunities, education, skills, jobs and a future, rather than being recruited, armed or manipulated for political purposes.”
He urged youths to reject anyone who attempts to use them as political thugs, stressing that their future was worth far more than whatever money they might be offered to attack opponents, destroy property or disrupt elections.
Eno directed security agencies to maintain professionalism and adopt an intelligence-led, coordinated and people-centred approach to election security, while calling for stronger collaboration among the Police, Department of State Services, Armed Forces and other agencies to prevent criminals and political troublemakers from exploiting institutional gaps.
He equally tasked the media to exercise responsibility in their coverage of political activities, warning that careless headlines, unverified social media posts and inflammatory commentary could have consequences far beyond the intentions of their authors.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to constitutional rights to political participation and peaceful assembly, but warned that nobody would be allowed to hide under politics to disturb the peace in Akwa ibom.
Speaking earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, said the seminar demonstrated the collective determination of stakeholders to ensure that elections in the State remained peaceful, orderly, credible and free from intimidation, thuggery and violence.
Azare warned that political thuggery, destruction of campaign materials, hate speech, intimidation of opponents, possession of dangerous weapons, disruption of political gatherings and attacks on electoral officials would not be tolerated.
He said peaceful elections could not be achieved through enforcement alone, but required cooperation among the Police and other security agencies, INEC, political parties, traditional and religious institutions, civil society organisations, the media, youths and the general public.
The CP particularly urged youths to refuse to become instruments of political violence, noting that their future was greater than political thuggery.
He also called on political leaders to resist the temptation to recruit, finance or encourage youths to engage in violence for temporary political advantage.
Azare cautioned citizens against the irresponsible use of social media, stressing that false information, inflammatory publications, hate speech and unverified claims could create tension and threaten public peace.
He assured that the security agencies would remain neutral, professional and impartial, with their loyalty to the Constitution and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to the peace and security of the people they were mandated to protect.
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