AKS  MAINTAIN PEACE MOVEMENT (MPM): THE QUEST FOR AN ENDURING PEACE

By Emmanuel Ukpong

The government of Akwa Ibom State recently made an imprint into the consciousness of her citizens when she officially inaugurated Maintain Peace Movement (MPM), a grassroots mass mobilization initiative geared towards sustaining the peace and progress already enjoyed in the State.

The Director of the group and the National Legal Adviser of PDP, Mr Emmanuel Enoidem, in his speech during the official launch at Odoro Ikpe, headquarters of Ini Local Government Council, where he inaugurated Dr. Glory Edet as the Council Steering Committee Coordinator, said, the essence is to consolidate on the existing peace and prevent crisis. He further stated that the movement is to prepare the state for a future that will continue to guarantee  peace, economic prosperity, and to also  sustain and consolidate on the gains already made in that regard. In her message of appreciation, Dr. Edet lauded the peace efforts of the governor and promised continuous allegiance to the Party as she assured that she will continue to discharge her duty creditably

Mr Enoidem, who disclosed the slogan as ” That Same God’ said with the launch, it has heralded a new dawn for political and economic consolidation with the anticipation of bringing  Akwa Ibomites together to coexist in peace irrespective  of party affiliations, tribes or religious persuasion, as he stressed further that it  will ultimately help bring about mass mobilization where mutual understanding and benefits will be guaranteed for the interest of the people.

The choice of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency for the flag off-of, with Ikono Council Steering Committees to be the first to be inaugurated of the peace mass movement by the government, some residents reasoned, could be a deliberate action, considering the fact that the two local government areas are considered as the Bastion of peace in the state and also as the Cradle of Ibibio civilization

The unique thing about the group is the fact that the people, within a given community, are recruited to sensitize and mobilize for peace and as mass mobilizers in their Communities, and the hierarchy of responsibility is spread from the local level to International level

The coordinator of the steering committee for Ibiono Ibom Council, who is the state commissioner for Information & strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, while being handed over the responsibility as the chairman, steering committee for Ibiono Ibom, said that the message of peace will continue to flourish in Ibiono Ibom L.G.A. He assured his people that, ‘We will engrain the message of peace and the message of peace will flourish in Ibiono Ibom’

In each Council Area where the train of the inauguration berthed, the enthusiasm and joy could be observed from the faces of the people, an indication that MPM is generally acceptable by the people, given the fact that the people, in the arrangements, are considered serious stakeholders in the process of continuous maintenance of peace in their various Communities

To underscore how important the mass peace movements consider the people, the leadership is structured in a way that the committee members of the mass movement go as far as the unit level after the local government, Ward leadership, thereby giving room for proper coordination of the affairs of the movement for optimum results

The inauguration train later moved to other Local Government Areas of the state and inaugurated Chairmen and Secretaries of the steering Committees, who will in turn inaugurate Wards and Units leaders in their respective local government areas

Onna Council Area inauguration signaled the end of the launch in all the thirty one (31) Council Areas  of the state, the Local Government Area of the Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Udom,  who equally took charge of the ceremony where he advised the people to be wary of politicians that may want to plot blackmail and violence as political tools to win elections as the election year beacons. The governor who is the Grand Patron of Maintain Peace Movement while speaking at the event,  described them as enemies of progress, noting that power is being attained through divine providence and not through violence or blackmail. He described peace as paramount for development, as according to him, ‘investors cannot stake their funds where there is violence. His words, “There can’t be development without peace. We want to sustain the peace. Anybody who is seeking power through violence and blackmail doesn’t wish Akwa ibom well”  he submitted.

Barrister Enoidem thereafter inaugurated the steering committee chairman for Onna Council area as he urged the people to remain resolute and seek peace at all times. He noted that in spite of the prevailing insecurity in Nigeria under president Buhari, Akwa ibom is still making waves in economic growth and development which he said is made possible by the unprecedented peace the state now enjoys.

The Grand unveiling and inauguration of the National Executive Council  on the 19th November, 2021  took place at the Nest of Champions, Uyo where members of the national EXCO of the Maintain Peace Movement were inaugurated with Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem as it National Chairman, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, Deputy Nat. Chairman, Sir Monday Uko, Coordinator, Prince Enobong Uwah, Secretary General and Barr. Morgan Ekanem as the Asst. Sec. General, amongst other Executive Officers. That event finally climaxed the months long inauguration of the MPM Local, Wards, Units and the National Exexcutive Council officers that commenced in July, 2021.

Speaking to a mammoth crowd that thronged the venue to witness the grand unveiling and inauguration of the national executive Council of MPM, Gov. Emmanuel Udom had assured them that the forth coming election will not destroy the peace being enjoyed in Akwa Ibom state. “If we must progress, if we must achieve something, there must be Peace. The development we have witnessed in the last six (6) years  is as a result of the peace we have witnessed in the state. As the political year draws closer,anyone who is not preaching peace should not have access to you. I will continue to live up to my responsibility for which you voted me into office” he had submitted.

With the general acceptance of this mass  movement by the people of the state across board, which is geared towards sustainable peace, it is expected that residents of the state will be continually grateful to the state governor for his foresight to incorporate citizens of the state as peace promoters and enablers. A greater number of citizens in reaction to the launch of the  Maintain Peace Movement, opined that with the launch, political activities and campaigns will be carried out without rancor or thuggery and that the initiative will also encourage citizens to be disposed to peace in their dealings with one another at all times.

However, it should be noted that Peace was a scarce commodity in Akwa Ibom State before the advent of this current administration in 2015. It was worse that kidnappings and other forms of criminalities were very rampant and perpetrators did not spare anyone in sight, including the elderly as some of them were kidnapped, even at Worship Centres. The insecurity then forced so many Investors to divest from the state as some of them relocated to safe havens.

With the inauguration of Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as the executive Governor of the state, he tackled the issue of insecurity headlong, and went as far as criminalizing perpetrators of cultism, thuggery, kidnappings and other social vices in the state.

That singular act guaranteed security and peace in the state, thereby creating investors confident and their eventual  return to the state which help in  boosting  economic activities, making the state Investors haven and destination.

With the reinvigoration of mass peace mechanism called Maintain Peace Movement in the state, and which is grassroots based, some people have posited that the state will continue to witness unprecedented peace, which, according to them, it will serve as a reference point to other states. One of such is Apostle Saviour Francis, himself a Peace Advocate and the Visionary of Life Channel Assembly Church, Lagos. He applauded the initiative and foresight of Gov. Udom Emmanuel in re-awakening the  consciousness  of the citizens to inculcate the spirit of peace through the launch of MPM. He expressed his full support for the initiative as he assured that he will continue to sermonize to his members at the Pulpit on the important of peace and benefits of maintaining such at all times.

Mr Ema Ekong, the newly appointed Youth leader of the grassroots movement, MPM in Etinan local government Council stated that he is elated to be part of those that will drive the peace process in their community and further disclosed that he has started his campaign for sustainable peace to be achieved in the state. He believes that the completion agenda of Gov. Udom Emmanuel largely depends on peace for it to be realized and therefore, peace should be imbedded by all.

He is not alone in that call for citizens of the state to rally round and support the movement. One of such is Mrs Angelica Bonanza Udoh, a front-line grassroots mobilizer and former Woman Leader in Ward 7, Ini L.G.A. She was full of appreciation to Gov. Udom Emmanuel for always implementing people oriented programs such as the MPM. She stated that with the commissioner of Agriculture, Dr. Glory Edet as the chairman, steering committee for Ini Council, that peace is assured across  board in the Council area, while she promised to mobilize and sensitize her people to continue to embrace peace, assuring that she will equally continue to work as a peace enabler and exemplar for the benefit of all.

With the initial launch of the peace initiative considered over, and with the appointments of steering Committee members in all the local government areas of Akwa ibom State done,those saddled with the responsibility to preach peace and ensure such is maintained in our Communities across the state should be reminded that peace is a desideratum and should therefore be a cherished commodity in our everyday life.

As it stands, the expectations of the people in the state is how to witness increased peaceful co-existence in our private, public, commercial and corporate lives that can translate into increased Industrialization for the good of all.

Members of the Steering Committees, stakeholders, government functionaries etc. should therefore be reminded that ‘HE WHO COMES to EQUITY MUST COME WITH CLEAN HANDS’. They should, as a matter of fact, exhibit traits and tendencies that promote and engender peace in our communities so that MPM will be a catalyst for the acceleration of economic advancement of Akwa Ibom State and her people  beyond Mr. Udom Emmanuel’s administration.