TheCable

Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom state, has asked his opponents not to turn the state into a battlefield.

Emmanuel said this one day after Moses Ekpo, his deputy, and some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were attacked in Essien Udim local government area.

He said the state has been enjoyed peace since he came into office.

“The people of Akwa Ibom know what they want and who they want. They are so enlightened, educated, and they are politically savvy. So, they know someone who is sincere, and have the capacity. I believe the people will speak out for what they want,” he said.

When asked if he was planning to match force with force against the opposition party, he explained that his only intention is to serve the people of Akwa Ibom.

He said, “I normally ask people that if the intention is to serve, why do you have to kill the people you want to serve. We all campaign, present our manifesto and call for votes so that we can serve our people, but if you sincerely want to serve your people, why do you have to kill them? This means that they have other motives in which serving is not included.

“I just want Nigerians to ask those preaching war where their children are. Whose children do they want to engage in the war, when they have hidden their children somewhere.”