Former representative of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has declared that the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers was not about the just concluded national convention of the party nor the South-south vice chairmanship position.
Abe made the declaration while addressing APC stakeholders at the Freedom House, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
He said: “Before we went into the contest, we were aware that there was consensus amongst the leaders in the South-South. We were also aware that the national agreement was that where consensus does not work, there should be a contest.
“Everybody in Nigeria knew that where the consensus will not work was in Rivers State and that is how it played out. When we got to the venue of the convention, it wasn’t only Rivers State that would have been affected, but for the unity of the party, they all agreed that there should be a consensus and those who are not favoured by the consensus should withdraw.
“We decided that we will not withdraw, let them vote because we wanted to make a point that consensus cannot be reached in Rivers State without consultation and respect for members of the party.
“That was why Worgu Boms did not step down for anybody. It is not that at that point we expected that we will win, but we wanted to make a point that we will not step down. And true to type, Worgu Boms did not step down; he did not go to the podium to cry.
“So, when I came back here and I saw the level of jubilation and celebration that was going on in the state over the fact that they said they defeated Worgu Boms at the convention, I thought they said he was not a member of the party; I thought they said he will not contest.
Abe went further to say that as a member of the APC and one of its leaders in Rivers State, President Buhari has not anointed anybody to succeed him.
“I am a member of the APC and I am not aware that anybody has been mandated to go about telling people that he has been anointed to succeed the President. That is misinformation”.
Earlier in his speech, Barrister Golden Chioma said the party knows that Rivers State APC is still factionalized.
“We believe that Senator Abubakar Adamu will do the needful so that we start preparations to contest the governorship election in the state noting that what APC members in Rivers State want is governorship candidate, not an employee of any individual or person but ‘one that can contest election and win’. Senator Magnus Ngei Abe is that man with enough capacity to contest election in Rivers State and win” he stated.
