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2019: Rivers Brick House And The Magnus Abe Factor by Comrade Nwokoma Messiah



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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