By: Emmanuel Nlewedum
People of Ikwerre and Etche ethnic nationalities in Rivers State have called on the former representative of Rivers South East at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe to run for the governorship position come 2023.
This is even as they have vowed to purchase the expression of interest and nomination forms for the senator.
The two ethnic nationalities comprising Ikwerre, Emohua, Obio/Akpor, Etche, Omuma and Port Harcourt City local government areas made the call under the umbrella body of Ikwerre/Etche People’s Forum in Port Harcourt.
President-General of the forum, Engr. Emmanuel Amadi who spoke at an event on Saturday in Omagwa, said Senator Abe is the most competent, capable and prepared person, with leadership capabilities to lead Rivers State as it’s next governor.
He said Abe had shown his capacity as a competent leader when he served as senator, Secretary to Rivers State Government and Commissioner of Information.
He described Senator Abe as a detribalised Rivers man that is generally accepted by all ethnic nationalities across the state.
“Rivers State has gone through a lot, in insecurity, underdevelopment, unemployment and others. Rivers State was created same time with Lagos state but look at the difference today.
“What our dear Rivers State needs now is a courageous, hardworking, visionary leader and a widely accepted person with good knowledge of the system to carry on with infrastructural rebirth and reforms that can ensure survival of the state despite the challenges.
“And we’ve looked at the people we have presently and found out that Magnus is the most stainless, credible and competent person that fits in, and can govern Rivers State and take it to a greater height. So we are calling on him to come and contest for governorship in the 2023 election.
He added: “Senator Abe is a visionary leader, I overheard him say, this state can be transformed to Dubai, and we are calling on him to listen to our call and the plea of others to come and contest so he can transform Rivers State to Dubai”.
“When he was at the Assembly, he led the house as a Minority Leader, when he became Commissioner for information, he was adjudged the best commissioner, as Secretary to the State Government, SSG, he performed marvelously. He brought insecurity in the state down. And as a senator, he had so many achievements credited to his name. He touched and affected so many lives and embarked on several development projects even beyond his senatorial district.
“We know that with his versed knowledge and with his antecedents, he can take us even above Lagos”, he said.
The President General of the Ikwerre/Etche People’s Forum further vowed to purchase the expression of interest and nomination form for the senator just to convince him to answer the clarion call and make himself available to contest.
“We have made funds available, we have contributed by ourselves, nobody sponsored us, we are neither APC, PDP, APGA, SDP, or Labour Party group. This is a congregation of people who love Rivers State, we will purchase form for him to contest”.
Amadi however used the medium to call on other ethnic nationalities in Rivers State to support Senator Abe as the next governor come 2023.
