The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abe

  • Abe empowers 60 men, women, youths in Opobo/Nkoro

    Abe empowers 60 men, women, youths in Opobo/Nkoro

    •Wife donates wrappers to 1,100 women

    The lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, has empowered no fewer than 60 men, women and youths drawn from the 11 wards in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government.

    One thousand one hundred  women from the area, particularly widows, also benefitted from the free wrappers scheme of the wife of the senator, Mrs. Bariyaah Abe, bringing the number of beneficiaries to 9,000.

    Abe arrived at Opobo, headquarters of the council, to a heroic reception by a crowd consisting of men, women and youths.

    The senator said the empowerment initiated outside his constituency projects was a direct response to the overwhelming support from the people of the district and followed the resolve of elected representatives in Rivers State to ensure personal contact with the electorate.

    Abe said: “What is happening in the politics of Nigeria is that there are middlemen, between you and the government. They collect what is meant for you and give you peanuts. I came to tell you that Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has eliminated political middleman in the politics of Rivers State. He has brought dividends of democracy directly to you and your children.

    “The middlemen are in Abuja trying to sell your future. They are promising people that if they bring money, they will deliver Rivers State to them. They are not asking you; they are not talking to you; they are not asking you what you think; they are not asking you what you like; they are not coming to look for you, but they are in Abuja collecting money on your behalf.

    “We will together, redefine the politics of Rivers State, and you will be the determinant factor. We will banish middlemen from our politics. By the time we finish with them, they will remain in Abuja.”

    A cleric, Ven. Christian John-Jaja, predicted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would win the governorship election in Opobo/Nkoro and Rivers State next year.

    Describing Abe as a leader ordained by God, he hailed the lawmaker for raising his voice against the agents of impunity in the state, even at the risk of his life.

    According to him, God would continue to lift him higher for choosing to stand with the people, against oppressors.

    The APC Women Leader in Opobo/Nkoro, Felicia Pepple; Chairman, APC, Ward 3, Ibim Ogolo; and a Youth Leader in the state, Bethel Oko-Jaja, said it was the first time in the history of the district that a serving senator would sit with the people.

    They pledged their continued support for Governor Amaechi.

  • Abe empowers 7,900 women

    More than 7,900 women, particularly widows in Rivers South-East, consisting of Andoni, Eleme, Gokana, Khana, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyigbo and Tai local governments, have gained from the Senator Magnus Abe wrapper scheme.

    Wrappers were presented to 1,000 women drawn from the 10 wards of Oyigbo Local Government.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) ward chairmen, spokesmen, women and youth leaders in the area got a motorcycle each.

    Speaking at the ceremony in Afam, Oyigbo Local Government Area, Abe said the gesture was to thank the women for their support to the Amaechi administration.

    He said: “What I am doing here is not constituency project, it is between my people and me.

    “My constituency projects are schools being built here in Oyigbo and Sogho, in Khana Local Government. Others are Anatomy Block in the University of Port Harcourt (Uniport) and a project at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology.”

  • …Abe, Okadigbo mourn him

    …Abe, Okadigbo mourn him

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Senator Magnus Abe, yesterday described the death of Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta as “surprising and shocking.”

    The late Kuta was a second-term senator and represented the Niger East Senatorial District. He was 65 years old.

    Abe said that the late Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs “was not only a committed Nigerian and a hardworking lawmaker, he was very jovial, friendly and very humorous, both within and outside the chamber.

    “Senator Kuta was a completely detribalised Nigerian who related well with anyone he met. We will surely miss him in the Senate.

    “He was such a dedicated lawmaker that despite his debilitating illness, he still found time to carry out his work and still submitted a report to the Senate less than two weeks ago.”

    Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Margery Chuba-Okadigbo, yesterday said that she received the news of the death of Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta with a rude shock.

    Senator Okadigbo, in a statement entitled “The man who brought sparkle, laughter and fun to the 7th Senate is gone,” lamented the demise of the Niger East Senatorial District lawmaker.

    Kuta was reported to have died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) on his way to London for medical check-up.

    Senator Okadigbo, who described Kuta as a forthright, frank and outspoken parliamentarian, noted that “indeed the 7th Senate has lost one of its pillars.”

    She recalled how Kuta used to “enliven the Senate chamber with his thought-provoking, scintillating and uncommon contributions during debates of bills and motions.”

    She also recalled how Kuta used to punctuate his contributions in plenary with thoughts and views about how to make the lives of ordinary Nigerians better.

    Senator Okadigbo said there was no doubt that it would take the Senate and most of those who were familiar with Kuta some time to come to terms with the fact that he is dead.

    “My thoughts are with his family and friends. May God in His infinite mercy grant them the fortitude to bear this huge and irreparable loss and grant the dead eternal rest,” she said.

  • My ordeal in the hands of Mbu’s men, by Abe

    My ordeal in the hands of Mbu’s men, by Abe

    The representative of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Magnus Ngei Abe, a lawyer, is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) and a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG). In this interview with Bisi Olaniyi in Port Harcourt during his first visit to Rivers State after the January 12 in which he was shot with a rubber bullet by policemen at the Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Rumuola, Port Harcourt, Abe relives his experience.

    How has it been since the incident of January 12, during the inauguration of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State chapter of the pro-Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s Save Rivers Movement (SRM) at the Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Rumuola, Port Harcourt?

    First is to thank God that I am here and I am able to talk to everybody and see everybody. That is the most important thing that has happened. The second thing is also to thank God for the victory at the Supreme Court (of Amaechi against Sir Celestine Omehia on February 7).

    We have had lots of these crises. Any right-thinking person will agree that it is time for us to put some of these things behind us. Since last year, there had been a concerted attempt to remove the governor (Amaechi) from office and overthrow the government of Rivers State by force and there is no provision in our Constitution for that kind of behaviour.

    Having tried by all earthly means and they have failed, I will appealed to them to now sheathe their swords and let us work together, to try to help the people of Rivers State. That is the reason for which we say we are playing politics. What we are doing now is not helping them. It is clear that the governor cannot be removed without the law. So, since that is clear and that is what we all agreed, as citizens of Nigeria, let us work with the governor, let him do his job and let all of us, who also have jobs to do, be allowed to do our own jobs. If we do that, it will help the state (Rivers), it will help the country.

    For us to turn Rivers State into a theatre of war, because of the ambition of any single individual, is morally, politically and spiritually wrong. We cannot kill ourselves here, because of anybody. If people feel that they want to join a political party, they should be allowed to join the party of their choice.

    If you feel that you have superior reason why people should follow your own party, explain your reasons to the people. Do not carry guns to go and attack or kill the people, for going to join another party. There is no justification for that kind of behaviour. As far as I know, the President (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan) himself has said he does not think that anybody’s ambition is worth anybody’s blood.

    So, how come, the blood of the young boy in Degema-Kalabari (headquarters of Degema LGA of Rivers State)? Whose ambition has the blood they spilled for? So, we should put a stop to these things, before it gets any worse.

    Nobody should assume that when you throw a stone into the market, you know who it will hit. If we continue to buy guns and arm people, every gun you buy has a lifespan of over one hundred years. So, who knows who will be your friend tomorrow? Who knows who will be your enemy tomorrow? Who knows in which direction these guns will point tomorrow? Let us play our politics, win or lose, let us thank God for the privilege he has given to us to lead and we should move on with our lives.

    Some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State and the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), which has as grand patron, the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, as well as the Rivers Police Command are still insisting that you were not shot by policemen on January 12 and that you simply pretended to attract global attention and sympathy. What is your reaction?

    I was not alone there. There were more than 200 people, who saw what happened. This young man was there with the camera. He was beaten up and his camera was destroyed. So, if nothing happened, why were they so eager to make sure that no picture of what happened got out?

    They opened fire on us in their midst. We were not in any crowd. To say that I was not shot is the largest understatement or the biggest lie of the century. These men opened fire, teargassed, everything was fired everywhere. People saw what happened. That I was not killed, yes, but to say they opened fire on you and you did not die, therefore nothing happened, is the height of. I do not know how to describe it. However, for me, I am going to court. I have asked my lawyers to file my case in court, against all those who had hands in what happened. I will meet them in court.

    How will you react to the refusal to read the letter of the 11 defecting senators and the next line of action?

    The Senate is a political institution. The problem we have in the Senate is political. There were some reports in the papers that I was angry and I walked out on the Senate. It is not correct.

    As you can see, even physically looking at me, I had an appointment with my doctor and so I wanted to leave early. The fact remains that what we have in the Senate is not different from what we have been having. We have a situation in the Senate. We have confidence in the leadership of the Senate. We have confidence in the Senate as an institution, that we will find a solution that will enable us as individual Senators to find our own satisfaction and self expression. That will allay the fears and concerns of those who have fears and concerns. That will protect the democracy of our country and uphold our constitutional rights and the rights of all Nigerians, particularly elected lawmakers, to abide by what their people want.

    So, it is to craft a solution that takes all these individual elements into it and satisfies all of them. That is the challenge before the Senate and it is not a new challenge. That is what the Senate is known and respected for. So, we are confident that one way or the other, we will find a solution that will not threaten the unity of the Senate.

    So, whether letter is read or letter is not read, as I pick up my card, I become a member of the APC.

    I cannot be a member of the APC and be sitting with PDP people, because in the Senate, we sit according to our party. So, I will not sit there. Definitely, we must find a solution that will enable me to sit with my colleagues and contribute to the floor.

    If I sit with PDP people, if I talk, how will it be recorded? Will they say Magnus Abe, PDP Rivers South-East? When I am no longer a member of the PDP. It has to be recorded that Magnus Abe, APC, Rivers South-East. That is what I am.

    So, the solution that will craft all these problems and solve them is what the Senate needs and that is what we are working for. Nobody is against anybody. Nobody is fighting anybody. We are politicians and we will play politics.

     

  • Senate: Attempt to declare Saraki, Abe’s seats vacant fails

    Senate: Attempt to declare Saraki, Abe’s seats vacant fails

    Attempts to declare the seats of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) vacant failed on Wednesday in the Senate.

    Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom North East) through a Point of Order, asked the Senate President to declare the seats of 11 PDP Senators who wrote the Senate to announce their defection to the APC vacant.

    Enang, Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, laboured to convince the Senate President, David Mark, about the need to declare the seats of the affected Senators vacant.

    Senators Enang wanted to vacate their seats in the upper chamber included Abubakar Bukola Saraki, (Kwara Central), Magnus Abe, (Rivers South East), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West), Wilson Ake (Rivers West), and Aisha Jumai Al-Hassan.

    The five Senators openly declared for the APC on the floor of the upper chamber on Tuesday.

    Like a rehearsed motion, Enang urged Mark to invoke the powers conferred on him as the Senate President to declare the seats of the defectors vacant.

    A competent source told our correspondent that the resolution to ask Mark to declare the seats of the defectors vacant was taken at the PDP Senators caucus meeting on Tuesday.

    The caucus meeting was summoned after five Senators of the ruling party openly announced their defection to the APC on Tuesday.

    The source who pleaded not to be named said that the threat to declare the seat of the affected Senators vacant was a ploy to intimidate them into dropping their defection bid.

    Enang said, “Yesterday (Tuesday) Senators Abubakar Saraki, Abdullahi Adamu, Aisha Alhassan, Magnus Abe and Wilson Ake declared on the floor of the Senate that they are no more in the PDP.

    “This is the party that sponsored them to the Senate. This is the party that owns the seats that they are sitting on.

    Mr. President I have two judgments of the court to present before this distinguished Senate to show that the seats of Senators Saraki, Aisha Alhassan, Abdullahi Adamu, Magnus Abe and Wilson Ake are vacant on the floor of the Senate and they are strangers on the floor of the Senate.”

    Before Enang could conclude his argument there was uproar in the chamber.

    When the uproar subsided, Mark gave Enang the floor once again.

    Enang continued, “I have the judgment of Justice E.S. Chukwu delivered on the 18th of October, 2013 between the PDP versus INEC, Abubakar Baraje, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and others which had declared that there is no division in the Peoples Democratic Party.”

    Another session of uproar by Senators ensued but Enang was unperturbed.

     

     

  • PDP woos defectors with money, automatic tickets

    PDP woos defectors with money, automatic tickets

    Saraki, Abe, Adamu, Ake, others to Mark: we’re now for APC

    SCRAMBLING to stave off more defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been making mouth-watering offers to senators and members of the House of Representatives.

    The offers may have accounted for the defection of some members of the House to the PDP yesterday, The Nation learnt.

    The PDP is said to be targeting senators and members of the House from Zamfara, Sokoto, Nasarawa and Kaduna states.

    Some PDP stalwarts in the Northwest have mounted a “one-on-one lobbying“of senators and members of the House who defected to the APC.

    It was gathered that in some instances, the spouses and other relations of some of the lawmakers are being urged to prevail on them to dump the APC.

    Some of the affected members of the National Assembly have confided in their colleagues that they have been under tremendous pressure to defect to the PDP.

    Some of the lawmakers found the baits irresistible and had to bow to the pressure, sources said.

    Some of the offers are:

    •governorship tickets;

    •automatic tickets to the National Assembly in 2015;

    •input into the emergence of PDP executives at the ward, local government, constituency/senatorial district – as may be applicable;

    •employment and constituency projects;

    •protection from harassment by their godfathers;

    •prospect of wielding contacts in a PDP government to earn more money.

    There were allegations of monetary inducements of between $20,000 and N50million, but these could not be immediately ascertained last night.

    Neither the affected lawmakers nor those levelling the allegation were prepared to comment on the allegations as at the time of filing this report.

    The development was said to have been brought to the notice of the House leadership, which was trying to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the allegation.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The PDP has been desperate to woo back those who defected to the APC.

    “A member of the House from Kano State has been promised the party’s governorship ticket if he dumps the APC. The influential member refused to defect to the PDP with ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau.

    “The offers keep on increasing as part of the bid by PDP to retain its hold on the National Assembly.”

    A lawmaker said: “The PDP has been targeting members of the National Assembly from Zamfara, Sokoto, Nasarawa and Kaduna states. The party is concerned that it is virtually losing the Northwest to the opposition.

    “We have heard of cases of alleged monetary inducement, but we are looking for an opportunity to get a proof to present to the public. We heard that some members of the House had been promised between N100million and N150million. This is why anti-corruption agencies should come in. Let them put all of us on surveillance; they should monitor our financial transactions.

    “You know even a governor in North-Central cried out about a week ago that some members of the National Assembly had been induced. I know the lid will soon be blown open.”

    A principal officer in the House, who pleaded not to be named, said: “If any infraction on the part of a lawmaker is proven beyond reasonable doubt, we will apply appropriate sanctions.”

     

  • Saraki, Abe, Adamu, two others openly declare for APC in Senate

    Saraki, Abe, Adamu, two others openly declare for APC in Senate

    Five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators on Tuesday took the bull by the horns on the floor of the Senate.

    The PDP Senators – Abubakar Bukola Saraki, (Kwara Central), Magnus Abe, (Rivers South East), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West), Wilson Ake (Rivers West),and Aisha Jumai Al-Hassan openly declared for the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the floor of the upper chamber.

    The open declaration for APC may have been informed by the refusal of the Senate President, David Mark, to read a letter signed by 11 PDP Senators informing the Senate of their defection to the APC.

    It was apparent that the open declaration of the PDP lawmakers for the APC rattled Mark.

    Each of defectors raised Point of Order to announce their defection to the opposition party.

    Proceedings on the floor of the Senate were held up for over one hour as the defectors rose to insist on the enforcement of their privilege to associate freely.

    Mark, however, relied on Senate Order 53(3) to rule the defectors out of Order.

    For Mark, the matter of defection of the Senators is in court and no reference shall be made to it according to Senate rule.

    Senator Saraki who led the group of defectors raised Order 14(a) which deals with privileges.

    Order 14 (a) says: “Privileges are the rights enjoyed by the Senate collectively and the members of the Senate individually conferred by the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act Cap 208 Laws of the Federation 1990 and other statutes, or by practice, precedent usage and custom.

    (b) “Whenever a matter of privilege arises, it shall be taken up immediately.”

    Saraki listed the names of PDP Senators who wrote the Senate to announce their defection to the APC.

    Mark told Saraki that the matter he raised is currently pending in court and the Senate shall not make reference to it.

    Mark noted that “privilege does not apply here because you were the person who went to court.”

    Saraki responded that “Presently, under Privilege I have informed the Senate that I have defected from the PDP to the APC and the matter in court is not about defection but the declaration of my seat vacant.”

    Mark said that his interpretation of the issue in court is not that of declaration of seat vacant.

     

  • Lawmakers flay attacks on Abe, Ndume

    Lawmakers flay attacks on Abe, Ndume

    The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Dakuku Peterside (APC, Rivers State), has condemned last Sunday attacks on Senators Magnus Abe and Mohammed Ali Ndume.

    Peterside, who described the two separate attacks as “the height of impunity and lawlessness”, said the Presidency and the Rivers State Police Commissioner Joseph Mbu would pay for their misuse of powers.

    Abe was shot in Rivers State on Sunday at a rally of Save Rivers Movement at Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. Ndume’s convoy was said to have been “mistakenly” bombed the same day during his trip to his home in Gwoza, Borno State, by a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jet.

    Peterside condemned the shooting of Senator Abe, saying: “First, I have been consistent that Nigerians must rise up and condemn what happened in Rivers State. That’s because it’s an abuse of our right to freedom of association, our right to freedom of movement and our right to hold divergent political views and opinions.

    “As I said, today it’s Rivers State; they will be strengthened if nothing is done. You may have noticed that before now, all these were directed against Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who holds a different view from those in the Presidency.

    “They’ve gone to great lengths to ensure that he’s brought to his knees. But with the support of the Rivers people and God Almighty, he has shown that he can speak truth to power. He has shown that we deepen democracy when we stand up for the people.

    “And so, we’re not surprised that impunity and lawlessness have been taken to this height by the Presidency and the Mbu-led Rivers police command. But we are certain they will not get away with it. This is the height of their impunity. They certainly will not get away with it.”

    The lawmaker said last Sunday’s events “signpost that there’s danger in the days ahead”.

    He added: “They signpost that there is danger in the days ahead and Nigerians must rise up and fight for the sustenance of democracy.

    “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has shown that it is a party that cannot be trusted; it’s a party that would continue with a culture of impunity. The PDP has shown that it does not mean well for Nigerians. It has frittered away our resources in the years of Jonathan’s Presidency. So, Nigerians do not expect anything serious from the leadership of the country.”

    According to him, political developments in the country justify the call for a state police.

  • Abe urges support for Amaechi

    Abe urges support for Amaechi

    The Senator representing Rivers South-East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Magnus Abe, has urged Rivers Youths to support Governor Rotimi Amaechi in his struggle to defend democracy in Nigeria.

    He spoke during the inauguration of the Kenule Saro-Wiwa Students’ Centre, Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    Abe said Amaechi’s fight was not for his own benefit, but to enable Nigerians experience the kind of democracy that would be beneficial to all and sundry, irrespective of their class, religion, and tribe.

    He said: “I want to use this opportunity to urge all of you to continue to support our dear governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in this fight to make democracy beneficial to Nigerians. He is not fighting for himself but for Nigerians, irrespective of class, religion, or tribe.”

    The lawmaker, who is also Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) pledged to provide computer sets and one year free internet subscription as well as a staff, who must be a student, to manage facilities at the centre.

    The President of the National Union of Ogoni Students (NUOS), Comrade Kpuinen Meedubari, pledged continued support to Governor Amaechi and Senator Abe, in appreciation of their contributions to the development of students in the state.

    be later at his Senatorial Office, Bori presented certificates to graduates of his skills enhancement scheme, which he is doing in partnership with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA).

     

     

     

  • Supporting Jonathan not mandatory, says Abe

    The senator representing Rivers Southeast, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has said the people of the Southsouth geo-political zone should not be forced to support the second term bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Abe, who spoke in Port Harcourt, also said there was no need to heat up the polity ahead of the 2015 general elections since there is freedom of association and choice of who to support under the constitution.

    He slammed those who think because President Jonathan should contest the 2015 general elections, no other person from the South-South zone should seek any other position in a democracy.

    The lawmaker said the ascendancy of the South-South zone was as a result of the zoning arrangement and that the people of the region do not constitute the majority in the country, hence the need not to abuse the benefits.

    He berated those attacking Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, for not supporting the second term ambition of President Jonathan, saying while the President has a constitutional right to seek a second term in office, Amaechi also has a constitutional right to support whoever he wants to support.

    “Those who acknowledge that the President has a constitutional right to contest must also acknowledge the constitutional right of others to support whoever they want to support or refuse to support who they don’t want to support. The constitution is for everybody,” Senator Abe said.

    “The best thing for us to do in this country, whether North, East, South, West or South-South, is to allow our politics to be driven by ideas. Those who feel strongly enough about something, regardless of where they come from, must be allowed to canvass their opinions and express their feelings.”

    The senator said Governor Amaechi remains a leading light in the country as a performer “under our democracy”, adding that his developmental strides would speak for him at the appropriate time.

    He said: “Amaechi has already achieved a lot for Rivers people in different sectors. He is a leader with a focus and we will continue to support him under rain or sun. We must leave a legacy for the people of the state through the projects of this government.”