More intrigues in Rivers as Abe, allies, supporters return to APC

More intrigues in Rivers as Abe, allies, supporters return to APC

The political space of Rivers State assumed a new dimension, yesterday, as governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general elections, Magnus Abe and his allies, including Golden Chioma, Worgu Boms and supporters, returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
They had abandoned the party to pursue Abe’s failed 2023 gubernatorial bid.
With the return and defection of 25 lawmakers, Abe, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Tony Okocha and possibly, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, are all in the same party.
The aforementioned have swayed the state’s political barometer for a decade.

Addressing newsmen shortly after a meeting with leaders and stakeholders, Abe said they returned to support President Bola Tinubu’s developmental agenda, stating that denial of individual’s rights was the root cause of problems in Rivers APC. 

He said some people took the party as a private business to promote selfish interest.

His words: “This meeting is to notify that we are returning to APC to support the government of President Bola Tinubu, and to do our best to ensure that Rivers people are part of the development at the centre, and also carry the state along.”

Abe said, by now, everybody who is part of the APC should have learnt a big lesson, stressing  that  it was time to come together as a party with open minds to promote the interest of the ruling party at the federal level. 

He continued: “My coming (back) to APC is to work together with other members of the party to ensure growth, inclusion, prosperity and progress for Rivers State and Rivers People.  If we all have the same mind, we will achieve the objective. 

“By now, everybody, who is part of the APC, should have learnt a thing or two. It is time to see how we can make the party work. We are coming back with open minds, and we are ready to work with everybody within the party.  I believe that everybody, who is sincerely interested in the progress of APC, will be ready to work together. 

“This is a new year, and everybody, who wants the APC to move forward in Rivers State, needs to realise that the party cannot grow by being a personal estate to anyone.”

Speaking earlier at a different forum, Okocha submitted that what makes a party tick is not a single individual, adding that the more, the merrier.

Okocha, who spoke during a visit to Orphanage and Elder Persons Homes in Port Harcourt, where he donated food items and other necessities, added: “I have also heard that Magnus Abe intends to return to the APC. Magnus was one of the founding members of APC in Rivers State. We were on the side against the leadership of APC, but I didn’t think that the proper thing to do was to leave (APC).

“He (Abe) should have remained, but he left maybe to pursue an ambition, which he was trying to pursue under SDP. He has seen the end of the road, and he has beaten a retreat. We welcome him back with a full chest. We will work together with him.”