LISTING social insecurity, occasioned by kidnapping, hostage-taking and political godfatherism as emerging negative phenomenal in the "hitherto disciplined, peaceful and hardworking" Anambra State, some elders of the state yesterday in Abuja called on its citizens to pray to God for attitudinal change and lasting peace.

Addressing the media ahead of the state National Summit on Security and Development (ASNSSD), which has been scheduled to hold in Abuja next week, the Chairman of Anambra State Public Officers and Elders Forum (ASPOF), Dr. Simon Okeke, said the group decided to organise the summit to provide a forum where the Anambra people could interact with one another to rediscover their cherished value system which he said had been eroded in recent times.

Okeke said: "The summit is a product of our concerted and vigorous effort at rediscovering our cherished value system and charting the course of our common destiny consistent with our true character and value system..."

According to him, "the state has been in the front-burner both for seasonal good news as well as occasional but sensational bad news."

"It is regrettable that the positive achievements of our people appear to be fading away into our distant past. Our present negativism has consistently dwarfed the commanding heights of our time honoured past.

"As elders and respected indigenes of the state, stakeholders and friends, we can no longer fold our hands and watch the state which we laboured so hard to build, to be destroyed by few misguided and self-seeking individuals in their brazen quest for money and crass materialism. We have decided to confront these challenges through the forthcoming summit," he said.

Also, former Governor of old Anambra State, Dr. Pius Chukwuemeka Ezeife, at the meeting yesterday, said the group believed that God had started answering the prayers of Anambra people. He, therefore, urged the people to support the movement for the restoration of peace, hard work and respect to the scheme of things in the state.

Ezeife said the leaders of Anambra State at several occasions had brainstormed on how to solve problems of insecurity and godfatherism in the state but had recently discovered that only consistent prayers could solve it. Alluding to a recent prayer summit in Awka, Ezeife said God had started harkening to the voice of the Anambra people.

In the summit which will hold on Thursday, November 12, 2009, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, under the chairmanship of former Secretary General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, Senators Ikechukwu Obiora, Joy Emordi, Annie Okoronkwo, members of the House of Representatives and senior government functionaries from the state are expected to "account for their stewardship" in the development strides and challenges in Anambra State.

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to be a special guest to the summit. Senator Ben Ndi Obi, Dr. Emanuel Egbogah and Prof. Ben Osisioma will be resource persons.