Former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has said those who are prone to violence are enemies of society, urging the people not to vote them into power during the forthcoming general elections in 2023.

Speaking on Sunday in Uyo during a special interdenominational service to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State, Jonathan said the people will continue to suffer if such leaders find themselves in office.

“In 2023, you must not make the mistake to vote killers. Those who will carry knives, guns, and all kinds of gadgets to go and kill people because of politics, are the enemies of society. If you kill to become a leader, you will continue to kill to remain a leader.”

“The people will continue to suffer. Make sure that from the House of Assembly to the House of Representatives to Senate to governor, you vote the right people in Akwa Ibom State.”

The ex-President commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for his impactful leadership and developmental strides in the state, recalling that there was uncertainty over the capacity of the Governor to perform when he first took over the office in 2015.

“The election of Governor Udom should teach us, politicians, a good lesson. When Governor Udom was to come as a governor, people said this man has never been into politics.

“Though we know he is a finance person who has been in the bank, he may not know how to manage human beings. But Udom came on board and changed the story."

He praised Akwa Ibom people for standing by the Governor.

In his sermon, popular cleric Apostle Joshua Selman said power belongs to God, charging leaders to always lean on God in all they do.

In attendance at the service were the Governor Emmanuel, his wife, Dr (Mrs) Martha Udom, Deputy Governor Moses Ekpo, Speaker Aniekan Bassey, Peoples'Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial candidate, Pastor Umo Eno and wife, deputy gubernatorial candidate, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, National Chairman of the Maintain Peace Movement, MPM, Barr Emmanuel Enoidem, Secretary of MPM, Prince Enobong Uwah and a cross section of Akwa Ibom people.

Man of peace.