RIVERS APC STAKEHOLDERS ENDORSE SENATOR MAGNUS ABE FOR 2019

The group under the aegis of a gathering of party faithfuls, known as “The Meeting “on Thursday, in Port Harcourt, unanimously called on Senator Abe to offer himself for the party’s governorship primary, stressing that “Senator Magnus Abe is the candidate with the temperament, courage, honesty, integrity and capacity as a bridge builder across ethnic, social and party lines to lead the party into actualizing its resolve to win the 2019 governorship election.”

The group in a six-point communiqué issued at the end of the expansive meeting stated: “Without equivocation and with the power and support of both the APC constitution and the Nigerian constitution, The Meeting stated that Senator Magnus Ngei Abe’s eminent qualification to aspire to the office of the governor of Rivers Stated under our party could not be questioned.”

The group declared: “Accordingly, The Meeting” called on him to present himself for the 2019 gubernatorial under our great party, APC, as he clearly has the support AND APPROVAL OF a vast majority of our party faithful across the state.”

The stakeholders in endorsing Senator Abe for the Rivers State 2019 governorship election insisted that its position was in tandem with the stipulations of the APC constitution and the Nigerian constitution that sanctions the right of individuals and groups to freedom of choice, speech, association and assembly.

“The Meeting affirmed the right of all party members to have ambition within the party, openly express it and canvass and lobby and rally support for its actualization without fear and within the laws and constitution of the party. The Meeting insists that it was only thereby that the party would be built rather the through the handpicking of candidates as was done in the past in line with the change agenda of our great party.”

The stakeholders appealed: “The Meeting strongly urged the State Working Committee to strive for independence, impartiality and inclusiveness if the party must come out of the present low morale of members.”

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On the sudden changes made to the leadership of local government caucuses of those perceived to be sympathetic to Senator Abe’s governorship ambition, by the leader of the APC in Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi,

“The Meeting expressed its gratitude and appreciation to all honest-hearted members of the party who are currently dismayed and broken-hearted and fiercely discriminated against in the party on account of their political orientation and the style of leadership which instills fear and threats for associating with Magnus Abe for not leaving the party but have continued to stay on and contribute meaningfully for the advancement of the party.”

The stakeholders concluded: “Finally, we thank Almighty God for the health of the president and his triumphant return home to contribute to the historic task of building a new Nigeria where no man will be oppressed so that we can hand over to pour children a banner without stain. The Meeting pledged its unalloyed loyalty tp and cooperation with the party and the president in this onerous task even as we congratulate His Excellency on the country’s independence anniversary.”

The motion for the adoption of Senator Abe was moved by Elder Chidi Wihioka, Member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Ikwerre Federal Constituency and supported by Hon. (Mrs) Shedrack Wenzu. The motion was unanimously supported by a voice vote by stakeholders from the 23 local government areas in the state.

“The Meeting” was attended by former councilors, local government chairmen, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Members of the House of Representatives, commissioners, chief of staff government house, Chief Tony Okocha, Senator Wilson Ake and different groups under the APC in the state.

Speaking at the event, Chief Allwell IOnyesoh, a former commissioner said only Senator Abe can defeat Governor Nyesom Wike in the 2019 gubernatorial election. Two former commissioners in Amaechi’s administration, Dr. Ipalibo Harry and Worgu Boms declared that Senator’s Abe’s gubernatorial ambition was not an act of betrayal but a courageous act and mission to rescue the APC the Rivers APC from the jaws of defeat in 2019.

The event represents the largest gathering of APC stakeholder since the 2015 general election which the APC lost to the PDP when it fielded Dr. Dakuku Peterside as its governorship candidate who contested against Nyesom Wile of the PDP.