Akpan Umoh, Uyo
Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Ita Enang has urged all political leaders across the country to put aside their differences and ensure peace is restored in all states and country.
Enang said this in his chat with newsmen to mark the 22nd Democracy Day in Uyo on Saturday.
According to him, the challenges of insecurity, economy and unemployment in the country have become so tensed and thick that all hands must be on deck to salvage the situation.
The presidential aide said it was time all political leaders in the state and country bury their political differences, work together for the purpose of restoring peace to state and country.
Enang added that Federal Government is doing everything possible to ensure that peace is returned to all parts of the country.
He noted that peace requires collective efforts by Nigerians, irrespective of political, ethnic or religious affiliation to be restored.
“I am here to plead with Nigerians and all Akwa Ibom people that the tension in Nigeria caused by security challenges, challenges of the youth, challenges of the economy, challenges of unemployment and other matters are so tensed and have become so thick.
“That political players should down play political actions and up play the question of managing and mending security in this country.
“Today, I will not speak much about Akwa Ibom State, I will not speak any matter no matter my convictions that may be divisive. I will drop all that, for the unity and security of Nigeria,” Enang said.
The senior special assistant urged all All Progressive Congress (APC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and all other political parties to join hands with the Federal Government to tackle the problem of insecurity in the country.
Enang said as a person and citizen of Nigeria, he would not discuss any issues now that will tend to bring division, no matter his convictions, but to sink political opinion and work with the Gov Udom Emmanuel to ensure peace in the state.
“I therefore urged all APC, PDP and all political parties to sink all differences at the Federal level, at the State level and at the Local Government level and at all levels.
“So that we join hands with Federal, State and Local Governments level to tackle the security and economic challenges confronting the nation, which is giving the world concerned, Nigeria and Nigerians concerned.
“It is time for me to work together, stay together, abandoned all differences, sink political opinion adverse to each other, and work with the Government of Akwa Ibom state and other Governments in Nigeria for the purpose of restoring peace to Akwa Ibom and peace Nigeria,” he said.
Enang commended Nigerians and the youth for their resilience in spite of the difficulties experienced across the country, advising that there will be no politicking without a state and country.
He said, “You can only have a state to politicking and country to politicking , when there is that country. You can only contest election and talk about what is right or wrong when you have a state and a country.
“At this stage, we are challenged and all will have to do is to put hands together, build back the state and country. So that we can have a state and country to politic in, with and about.”