As the 2023 general election gets closer, one of the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking for the position of governor in Rivers State, Magnus Abe has said that the party cannot afford to field someone who is not known to the people.
Abe dropped the hint in Port Harcourt, the state capital, during the consultation of APC members from Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
Abe, who represented Rivers South Senatorial District in the Senate, explained that APC cannot afford to field a person that is not known to the people in the party and that such an attempt is like robbing the people who had laboured for many years in the party.
“We suffered together in the past but we never won. I joined APC because I believe in change,” Abe said.
He maintained that if given the mandate he would serve the people and put the people first as a priority.
“We will serve the people first before ourselves,” he said.
The governorship hopeful urged the supporters to be steadfast and stand strong and fight for what they want, saying that he was requesting the people’s support to lead them to victory.
He recalled that APC has no peace, no elective position in Rivers State, since 2015 till date, adding that Senator Bola Tinubu “can deliver the killer punch as the party’s flag bearer” and that the Rivers APC should support him.
Abe, who was Secretary to Rivers State government, former Rivers State House of Assembly Minority Leader and former Commissioner for Information Rivers State, said, “We must take decision that will take us to victory.”
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On the issue of upland and Riverline governorship, he expressed displeasure, saying such ideology is illogical and no longer exists, as most communities in Gokana are part of riverine such as Bodo City, B. and K. Dere, Bomu and even Kaa and Kono in Khana LGA, have enormous river, therefore qualify for such a political equation.
He also called on the delegates to be vigilant.
In his opening remark, Golden Chioma, chairman, APC Rivers State, said that the people should not be afraid that Abe would be the next governor of Rivers State by the grace of God.
The politician recalled how in 2014 Abe was shot by Police officers loyal to a sitting governor at the same venue he was consulting people today and God saved his life just because he was loyal to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, minister of Transportation, “yet the man no longer wants to see him.”
He called on the people to vote for Abe during the delegate election and other qualified APC aspirants.
Wogu Boms, a former attorney-general and commissioner for Justice, Rivers State and the director general, Freedom House, told the teeming crowd to reject the spirit of fig tree in APC at every election, saying, “if salt loses its taste it should be thrown away,” adding that the party must this time around experiment with those that can win elections, particularly, the position of governor of Rivers State.
Senator Wilson Ake also told APC to vote for only qualified and people-oriented person with capacity, vision and experience.
While saying that Abe fits the bill, he also warned the party not to gamble their chance this time around but should come together and support the man they all described as “brain box” when Rt. Hon. Amaechi, Gov. Wike and Senator Abe was in same political party in the past.
Others who also gave goodwill messages include Chidi Wiiyorka, a former House of Representatives member; Austin Wokocha, a federal commissioner; Ted Oteh and Mary Alagua, among others.
