By: Felix Ikpotor
Former governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe has stated that his reason for working with the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike is to help realise President Bola Tinubu’s second term bid in 2027.
Senator Abe who stated this while addressing his supporters in Port Harcourt also said that he returned to the All Progressives Congress, APC, to work with the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, in Rivers state, Chief Tony Okocha.
The former National Assembly member while speaking recalled how the former Governor, Rotimi Amaechi threatened to destroy the APC in Rivers State because of his (Abe’s) ambition to contest the governorship of the state in 2015 and 2019.
“Amaechi drove to my house in the presence of my wife and told me that he knew I could win an election. He said should not dare to contest because I did not even have the money to pay delegates. In another meeting at The Dome, he told the elders of the party that if I dare to contest the election, he would destroy the party”, Abe recalled.
“The whole drama between me and (Dr. Peterside) Dakuku was unnecessary. Dakuku is my younger brother. It was very clear that Amaechi wanted Dakuku as his successor and that decision divided the state into two even the party.
“I went to Amaechi, the then Governor and told him since you have chosen Dakuku from the minority as Governor, it will be better to have Senator Wilson Ake who has maturity and experience from a majority ethnic group to be a deputy governor to Dakuku. Amaechi immediately said if there was an Abe faction of the APC in the state”.
Abe insisted that anybody he wanted to work with, he must reconcile with the person. “I am comfortable working with Wike. I did everything to convince Wike as Governor then to work for Tinubu in Rivers state. Wike is my friend. Today, he is working in APC government as minister. We must work together.
“Without Wike, Tinubu would not have won in Rivers state working with us alone. This is how Nigerian politics works. In 2027, the north will look at who will come out to contest for presidency. The North cannot support somebody who will want to run for another eight years. The North will still support President Tinubu to do his eight years”.
He noted his respect for Governor Siminalayi Fubara but said, “I will always support my party. I will always defend my party. I have the greatest respect for the governor of Rivers state”, he said.
On the defected members of Rivers State House of Assembly, Senator Abe reiterated that the 27 APC lawmakers in the Assembly are members of the party and that he supports their decisions.
“There was a time that eleven of us in the National Assembly defected to APC, we did not lose our seats. We want peace in Rivers state and we will always call for peace”.
He further called on party faithful to forgive the grievances of the past and join forces for the success of the party.
