The quest for political
positions across the country has become more exciting with the declaration for
various positions of interest by politicians. Rivers state is not left out of
the frenzy especially for the governorship position. The aspiration to go for
another term in office by the present administration in the state under Nyesom
Wike is widely known even if he has not officially declared.
The only candidate to
have officially declared for the position of governor in the state as it is today
is Sen. Magnus Ngei Abe. Abe presently represents Rivers South East in the
Senate. The declaration of this soft spoken senator with a lot of steel, energy
and ideology for a better Rivers state witnessed an array of political players
across the length and breadth of the state. The top APC brass in the state
especially former exco members of the Rotimi Amaechi administration, House of
Reps members, former Senators as well as many others deeply illustrated the
kind of personality which the Ogoni born Senator is viewed at and his
acceptance index.
In analyzing the
chances of who emerges the governor of the state come 2019, I am of the view
that Sen. Abe has the X factor that can make the difference and help him clinch
the office. This factor which is a kaleidoscope of his personality, experience
gathered over the years and the present yearning of the people of the state for
power to shift out from the Ikwerre ethnic group as well as his independent
mindedness will surely count when the chips are down.
It is on record that
Abe made known his ambition to be governor despite kicks especially by the
former governor of the state Rotimi Amaechi that he shelves his ambition. His
decision to go ahead has endeared him to Rivers people who do not want a
governor that will be tied to the apple strings of a god father. The state has
suffered so much due to god fatherism
and since they do not see the Senator as such, the people of the state feel
comfortable with such personality hence the massive support he is gathering by
the day. After his official declaration to contest for governor, a survey was
made to gauge the feelings of the people and most of the respondents are of the
opinion that the state needs someone that is independent minded and with
experience to push for a paradigm change in the way things are done.
Aside being an
independent minded personality which does not imply that he is obstinate, Sen.
Abe remains the most politically experienced. At the beginning of the present
republic, he served as a member of the House of Assembly and later Commissioner
for information under Governor Peter Odili. He was one of the people who stood
their ground that the right thing must be done when former governor Amaechi was
been victimized. His resilience paid off with the famous Supreme Court verdict
and he was made the Secretary to the State Government. After four years as SSG,
he vied for the Senatorial seat and is currently doing his second term.It
should be noted that in all the positions he held, he brought in un-quenching
taste for perfection in all things. His innovations as Commissioner as well as
SSG are well documented. Even as Senator, he cannot be said to be like those
senators that just warm the bench. He has performed credibly well to the
admiration of his constituents. At age 50, he has the energy and wherewithal to
move Rivers state which has become a victim of defalcations and venality to
greater heights.
The fact that the
people of the state are yearning for change of direction of government power
from the Ikwerres to the Ogonis is another factor that is endearing people to
the Abe project. The Ogonis with their population and contribution has not been
well compensated by the state. The sacrifice which Ogonis sacrificed is what we
are benefitting today in the state and the Niger delta region. Claiming to be
insensitive to what they have suffered by not supporting their son for governor
of the state will be most callous and Rivers people are not known for such
insensitivity.
It is true that the
riverine people also want to govern the state come 2019 but the truth is that
with the kind of governor in the state today, it will only take a candidate
with steel, experience, passion, appeal to the masses and political outreach to
defeat him come 2019. That candidate is no other than Sen. Magnus Abe. The fact
that he is today being fought against, shows that he is the man to beat and
like one of his ally stated, no one can stop a moving train when the time has
come. Sen. Magnus Abe and his aspiration is a moving train that will surely reach
its direction and it will definitely be for the benefit of the majority of
Rivers people.
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