The former senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Magnus Abe has distanced himself from allegations by two members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he is plotting with the Rivers state government to exclude the party from the ballot in 2023.
The officials, who claimed to Abe’s loyalists said the former senator had in a meeting with Barrister Worgu Boms and the Rivers State PDP Chairman, Ambassador Desmond Akawor planned to avert justice in the suit against the APC in Rivers State and its former caretaker chairman, Isaac Ogbobula.
In a statement on Monday, Abe said the allegation is a desperate attempt to blackmail him ahead of the national convention of the APC.
The Rivers APC Chieftain said the smear campaign against him is being sponsored by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, noting that “frustrated people will always do desperate things.”
According to Abe, “Obviously, the world has seen through his multi-million naira campaign of hatred and calumny in Rivers State and consigned it to the trash where it truly belongs.
“In their latest desperation, the Minister’s faction of the party has come up with a comic, infantile video to tell barefaced lies against my person. The so-called press conference by these desperadoes is nothing but a reflection of the frustration of a leadership that has clearly run out of ideas.
“Ordinarily, it would suffice for comic entertainment if the issues raised and their consequences for our party and our state were not so grave. The allegations made by these gentlemen in the public glare constitute a conspiracy by Barrister Worgu Boms, Ambassador Desmond Akawor and the others named, to perverse the cause of justice, and if such a meeting was held all those involved ought to be prosecuted and punished, no matter how highly placed.
“I have directed our solicitors to submit a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State demanding an immediate investigation of these allegations.
“Nigerians are aware and should demand the outcome of similar actions by Amaechi’s loyalists in the past, such as the invasion of the Port-Harcourt High Court complex, the bombing of the APC secretariat at Waterlines Junction, the threat to destroy all federal government facilities and oil installations in Rivers State and several attacks on APC members in Ogu Bolo, Onelga, and Asari Toru Local Government Areas of Rivers State which occurred either with the active participation of the law enforcement agencies or were completely ignored by them even when the culprits were publicly identified.
“This is the kind of leadership the APC is afflicted with in Rivers State. The investigation into these allegations must not be allowed to be swept under the carpet. This time, let the truth be revealed and let the law take its course.
“All these efforts and money spent to sow hate and division within the party, can’t we put them into a genuine effort to build a party that can compete in a proper election in Rivers State? Will destroying Senator Abe in Rivers politics help the APC gather more votes in the State?
“It is only fools that will keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.
“Once again, let me appeal to genuine members of the APC in Rivers State to come together and take our destiny in our hands before it is too late.
Finally, let me appeal to the national leadership of the APC to join us to demand that the Nigerian police should investigate the allegations aggressively so that the state chairman of the PDP and all those involved in this alleged heinous act can be punished to our satisfaction.
“On the contrary, if it is established that this was sponsored, orchestrated by desperate politicians within the APC in Rivers State, they should equally be held to account as the same amounts to Criminal Defamation.
“It should be clear to all by now, that people who can contrive and sponsor this serial show of shame have no place in a party of integrity. The time to act is now.”
