By: Felix Ikpotor
As the race for 2023 begins to take shape, a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Sir Godwin Bazari has expressed strong conviction that Senator Magnus Ngei Abe can still clinch the governorship of the state on the platform of the party.
Bazari who spoke on Sunday, at the inauguration of the Gokana local government t area chapter executives of the Rivers Voice of Freedom (RVF), said Abe’s chances are very bright.
“It is realistic. APC is a political party and what makes up a political party is the collective will of the people who have come together. Magnus Abe has chosen to be in the All Progressives Congress and so is all his followers and those who think in same direction with him. We strongly believe that we can realize our dream through APC as a political party” he said.
He noted that the party is open for all interested persons to vie for positions when time is ripe.
“ Its not a personal property, it’s a party. The only authority of the party that guides the actions of everybody is the party’s constitution which brings all of us together and we believe strongly that though there will be differences because there are various interest, but what is important is that people respect the party constitution and keep to the rules, everybody must contest, that’s why there is democracy for people to come and show their popularity and let the best go,” he said.
Bazari who is the leader of the party in the area added: “when the time comes everybody will be asked to come and show their popularity. We are appealing to Senator Magnus Abe to make himself available for the people of Rivers State when the time comes”.
He pledged to support the group to realized its aim of galvanizing massive support for Abe in the state.
On his part, HRH, Mene Kadilo Kabari who was the royal father of the day said he is in support of the group because it encourages freedom.
“The group is made up of committed sons and daughters of Rivers State that have brought out their voice for freedom. The voice of freedom is a voice against injustice, a voice against inequality, a voice for political equity, a voice for justice, a voice for social equity and a voice against dictatorship in a democracy. It is the kind of leaders we need for society to be better and that are why as a traditional ruler I am more concern about the kind leaders that the society brings. So I am in support of a group like this that talks about freedom”.
Earlier in his address, President General of Rivers Voice of Freedom, Comrade Dominic Dumekpigi said the bitter experience of 2019 led to the formation of the group.
“The group came up as a result of what we experienced in the last general elections of 2019 where opportunities were denied party leaders to test their popularity in the political space and even when they showed interest, leadership of the party didn’t give them the chance so as youths we decided to come together because denying our leaders is like denying us our future so we decided to take the future in our hands and to speak in one voice to say no to marginalization, victimization and leaders with dictatorial tendencies.
He added: “we want to use this platform to preach to the people that we are still interested in contesting the election in 2023 and when the right time comes we will call on Senator Magnus Abe to offer himself to serve Rivers people”.
