Don’t vote for politicians that’ll bury Nigeria, Emmanuel tells electorate

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has warned Nigerians against voting politicians into power that would bury the country.

According to him, Nigeria was in a critical stage of its economic and political development and needs the right leadership to save it from eventual collapse.

Speaking on Monday in Abuja while declaring open a four-day retreat organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council on the theme: “In Search of a Better Nigeria through Responsible Journalism, Emmanuel added that such politicians would destroy and bury the country.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr Ini Ememobong said any attempt to make wrong choices in 2023 would take the country back, many years.

“It is often said that a young man looks up because he is looking into the future, while an old man looks down because he is trying to locate a place for his grave. We’ll bury our country if we make wrong choices on leadership,” he said.

Also speaking, the NUJ Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Amos Etuk lamented the lack of government’s recognition of the media in building a better Nigeria.

“The politicians seeking our votes have dismissed our relevance, they forget that all of us seated here today and millions across 774 Local Government Areas in the country are the structures needed to give our country the best in the next few months.

“We must set agenda for good and transformational leadership. We must write with boldness, resist the current attempts to lay siege against the media, we must insist on a free press all within the boundaries of the ethics of this well-respected profession,” he stated.

In her welcome address, Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Idongesit Ashameri said the retreat was to remind Journalists of their role in holding political leaders accountable for their promises to the people especially as the election year draws close.

Ashameri regretted that most journalists are quick and thrilled to give the best colouration in the most appealing ways to such promises by politicians which sadly most of them fail to fulfil.

“But the question is how often do we consciously remind governments at all levels of the need to ensure congruence between their policies and programmes in the office with the electioneering promises earlier made to the electorate through our various media organisations. Gentlemen, this is where our responsibility comes in,” she said.