On 28th July, this year, a grassroots mobilization initiative known as Peace Maintenance Movement (PMM) was launched with the aim of positioning Akwa Ibom State for a secure future that guarantees sustainable peace, prosperity, and socio economic development for the people.
At the helm of the movement are Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem, as the Director-General, and Prince Enobong Uwah as Secretary-General.
With the launch, the message of peace as the panacea for any meaningful development, the Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem’s led peace advocacy team, rechristened ” Maintain Peace Movement” (MPM) has been taken to about twenty-eight Local Government Areas in the State, so far.
Agreeably, one enduring blessing God has endowed Akwa Ibom State with; within the last six years of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s leadership is peace.
The peace and serenity experienced in the land, coupled with the visionary leadership provided by the State Governor have translated into the avalanche of developmental projects spread across the length and breadth of Akwa Ibom.
From the many Industries to Healthcare facilities, Power supply, Investment in Education, Agriculture, Rural and Riverine Area Development, Roads infrastructure to Aviation and Human Capacity Development, the Governor’s development strides have been facilitated by the peaceful ambiance of the State, and the supportive disposition of our people.
It is not surprising that Akwa Ibom, nationally acknowledged as the most peaceful State in the Country, and one with the superior infrastructure provided by the government has become a most sought after destination by Corporate institutions, Groups, Organizations, and Tourists, who throng the State for business, conferences, and leisure.
It is also on record that the peaceful and hospitable disposition of the people in addition to the investor-friendly environment has placed the State in the foremost position as an investor’s haven.
This goes to buttress the point made by the former South African President, late Nelson Mandela that ” peace is the greatest weapon for development”.
This position was corroborated by the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize Laurette and Burmese’s Politician, Aung San Suu Kyi who opined that ”peace, development and justice are all connected to each other. We cannot talk about economic development without talking about peace…”
Also, read;Empowering Youths for Sustainable Peace
Therefore, in conceiving and birthing the PEACE advocacy movement, the Grand Patron of the group, Governor Udom Emmanuel must have been inspired by the wise counsel of the respected world leaders and even from the guiding precepts of the Holy Book.
With the mandate to ‘‘hoist the peace flag” in all the thirty-one Local Government Areas of the State, the State leadership of the movement are convinced that it is only in an atmosphere of sustained peace that development can thrive.
At this point, it is pertinent to appeal to the leadership of the movement, both at the State and Local Government levels, that this laudable grassroots mobilization initiative should be driven as an Akwa Ibom project that should be taken above the political divides.
It has to be said that peace is a language spoken by all lovers of development.
It is also humbly suggested that all stakeholders in the Akwa Ibom project including Religious leaders, Traditional fathers, Academia, Women, and Youths should be brought on board the campaign to take the message to their communities and families in order to create the desired impact.
According to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Aniekan Bassey, who spoke at a recent gathering of Uruan sons and daughters assembled at his instance, peace has been the nature and culture of the people of Uruan.
Therefore as the Maintain Peace Movement train berths in Idu, Uruan Local Government Headquarters, this is assuring the amiable Patron of the Movement, the State leadership, and indeed Akwa Ibom people that Uruan shall continue to uphold, promote and maintain the peace in the land in order to foster socio-economic development of the people.
