By Harris-Okon Emmanuel

UYO–Rising from a meeting with the Commissioner of Police and political stakeholders, traditional rulers in Akwa Ibom State have decried attempts by some political actors to instigate violence into the politics of the state ahead of the General Election.

Representative of the monarchs, Edidem Edet Akpan Inyang, paramount ruler of Itu, bemoaned that traditional rulers and religious leaders were fast becoming partisans, a development he noted does not augur well for peace and cooperation among the people and advised them to remain apolitical to all and sundry to ensure unity in the state.

He said, “this election is not something anybody should stake his or her life for. Election will come and go.

“Traditional rulers and religious leaders talk politics which they should not. It is a dangerous moment. Religious leaders and traditional rulers are spiritual leaders of the society. If they talk politics and take sides, what will happen?

Commissioner of Police Makama warned the police personnel to be civic, and not go out of the rule of engagement, adding ‘’if anybody goes out of his duty to arrest because of petition, it is not from Makama’’.

He noted that all electoral offences would be treated with dispatch in accordance with the extant law of the land, maintaining that the Police would remain non-partisan and discharge their duty professionally in line with international best fit.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the major political parties in the state including the PDP and the APC.