Aka Community in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Friday celebrated its annual day with pomp and pageantry, with community leaders calling on the people to embrace love as no meaningful development could take place in an atmosphere of rancour.

Barr. Sylvester Akpan, chairman of the event tagged “2014 Aka Day Celebration”, commended the people of the community for their “improved show of love.” He, however, urged them to do more in that direction, adding: “Love is the key to unlock all other good things in life.”

Barr. Akpan stated that the people of the community, with all the elders, had constituted one recognised youth group, warning against the formation of any opposition youth group in the area.

He emphasised that the importance of “Ata Uyo” in the state capital cannot be over-stressed and also spoke of the importance of education of Aka children, urging parents to “make sure you send your children to school.”

The event chairman praised the Champion Brewery Industry cited in the Aka community “for not shirking in its community relations obligations.”

The village head, Chief Francis Morgan Akpan, in his welcome address harped on respect for one another. “Respect others before yourselves to enable you to receive abundance blessings,” he advised.

Chief Akpan stressed the gains in peacefully resolving any differences that might arise in selecting the community youth leaders and warned his subjects against unnecessary bickering.

Chairman of the Elders Forum, Dr. Chris Nyong, thanked God for preserving the people of Aka to celebrate yet another Aka Day. He re-echoed the need for love among his people, urging them to pray for unity, progress and honesty to prevail among them, which he noted, would enhance peace and respect.

Dr. Nyong urged the youth of the community to respect the Elders Forum, “as respect is reciprocal.” He also implored them also to “go to school before anybody dabbles into politics.”

Dr. Nyong, an ex-chairman of Uyo Local Government Council, pointed out that “politics without sound education is baseless because you will have nothing to fall back to after your political tenure.”

News Express reports that highlights on the occasion included first ever Aka Carnival Float; a thought-provoking exhortation by Rev. Patrick Okokon of Mount of New Covenant and Deliverance Assembly, Uyo; Song Ministration by Covenant Voices of the MNCD; cultural displays, as well as inauguration of the Aka Youth Executives.

•Photo shows Chairman of Aka Elders Forum, Dr. Chris Nyong.