Igbos, a force to reckon with in Rivers politics — Abe

…As Igbo Communities endorse his Guber Candidacy

Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt

The Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State, Sen Magnus Abe, has said that the Igbos are a significant bloc in the politics of Rivers State and therefore cannot be overlooked, especially now that the 2023 general elections are by the corner.

Abe made the remarks at the weekend in Port Harcourt in his acceptance speech on his endorsement as the sole Governorship candidate by the Igbo Community in Rivers State, ahead of the March 11, Governorship Election.

The Senator said that, in the history of politics in Rivers State, everybody who understands politics in Rivers State understands that the Igbos are a significant bloc in the State, so  anybody with such support is already a front runner.

“The Igbos have never come together to endorse only one candidate. This is the first time in the history of politics in this State that the Igbo people, Ndi-Igbo in Rivers State, have come together across party lines, across every divide to endorse one candidate for the governorship of Rivers State and I, Magnus Ngei Abe, I am the beneficiary of that grace.

“I did not campaign for it. I did not lobby for it. I have not spent a penny. Even the clothes I’m wearing here was provided for me by the Igbo people. All I have to do was to come here today and accept your love.

“This kind of trust, this kind of commitment, this kind of love to a politician in this country where nobody believes anything that any politician says is unprecedented.

“My prayer today is that, Almighty God who holds the future in his hands and knows us even more than we know ourselves, will not allow me to disappoint you. And let me put it on the record that the Igbo people did not ask me for anything. There is no pre-negotiation. All they told me was that I should serve God and see that the people are protected so they can do their business.

“That is all you have asked me to do,  that I should abide by the oath of office that I will swear before you all.

“Let me assure you, I know and I have said it severally and I think everybody is beginning to believe it now, even with what we are seeing today. I have neither silver nor gold, but what I promise is that I will uphold the oath of the office of the Governor.

“Everybody in this State will be treated fairly and justly. Everybody, regardless of where you come from and who you are, everybody in this State that is ready to work hard and prosper will be given an opportunity in which hard work will yield prosperity.

“Everybody who lives here, you vote here, you bring up your children here, you have called this place your home, we will build a home together in Rivers State that all of us would be proud of, and most importantly, I think it is important that I say this, there will be no excuses.

“I will not come back to stand in front of Rivers people and begin to give excuses why we cannot do what is right and why we cannot make your life better,” he said.

Earlier, in an address presented by the Secretary of the Igbo Community in Rivers State, Mazi Ikechukwu Edward Osisiogu, on behalf of His Royal Majesty, Eze Stanhope Ogadinma Okeorji, said before this time, different Igbo groups had endorsed Senator Abe ‘even Igbo groups who have not been in good terms are all here, setting aside their differences and agreed to come together to speak with one voice.’

“To us, Ndigbo, it is a very good sign that God is with you and that God is involved in your project and we will leave no stone unturned to make sure that victory is achieved.  “We profiled every other candidate before we came to this conclusion. For someone calm, intelligent and smart enough to govern a complex State like Rivers State, Chief Senator Magnus Ngei Abe has that capacity.

“For good and bright ideas to make Rivers State an investor’s haven, Chief Senator Magnus Ngei Abe stunned us with his great plans for Rivers State and you can see his sincerity and optimism that this dream is achievable as it is not a rocket science in cities and countries where it was deployed as a proven formulae.

“For security of lives and property of Rivers people, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe has the answers.”

The Convener of the Group, High Chief Uchenna Okokoba said as far as he is concerned Abe is the next Governor of Rivers State.