The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Magnus Abe

  • ‘Reject imposition of candidates in 2019’

    A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, has called on the people of the state to reject any attempt by political godfathers to impose candidates on them, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Abe, according to his Spokesperson, Parry Benson, on Monday in Port Harcourt, made the call while addressing the people of Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, who reside in Diobu waterfronts in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.

    He reiterated that he declared his intention to vie as Rivers governor against the decision of supposed leaders of the APC, because he wanted things to be done differently, to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

    Abe, a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), admonished the people of his senatorial district and other Rivers electorate to shun all forms of financial inducement from moneybags, urging them to rather support individuals that would deliver on their promises and bring government closer to the people.

    The representative of Rivers Southeast senatorial district stated that the state was in dire need of development in many areas, but said it could not be achieved without the right leadership in place.

    He lauded his constituents for their kind support, while admonishing the large crowd of people from the riverine communities not to be intimidated.

    Read Also: Ahmed’s aide resigns, stays in APC

    Abe said: “I have no godfather, but I have God on my side. So, you must remain resolute in your support for what is right and for the APC and we shall win.”

    In his remarks, a former Rivers Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Worgu Boms, stressed that the 2019 elections would not be about ethnicity, but to be about the truth and capacity to deliver.

    Speaking on behalf of the Diobu waterfront residents, Eze Owabie Tobin, stressed that the people decided to support the governorship aspiration of Abe, because they believe in his ability to redeem his promise and bring development to Rivers state.

    Tobin said: “We have decided to support you, because we believe in your ability to develop the state and not to punish the poor people and allow them to continually live in abject poverty.”

    The leader of the delegation also urged Abe to learn from the mistakes of some administrations in the state, past and present, so that if elected as governor in 2019, he would run a transparent government.

    People from the waterfront communities unanimously endorsed the senator as their preferred candidate for the 2019 governorship election, while expressing sadness that successive administrations in Rivers state had not included the waterfront dwellers in their development agenda.

     

  • Odili, a living legend, says Abe

    The lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe, has described a former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, as a living legend, whose exemplary lifestyle has impacted positively on many people.

    Abe, on Thursday in an online statement by his Spokesperson, Parry Benson, congratulated Odili, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on his 70th birthday. 

    The senator, who is also a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state for the 2019 election, stated that Odili should be emulated for his impressive performance as governor and love for humanity.

    Read Also: Buhari congratulates Odili at 70

    He said: “On behalf of my wife, Bariyaah, we join your (Odili’s) family, friends, well-wishers and indeed millions of Nigerians to celebrate with you on this auspicious occasion of your 70th birthday.

    “Your invaluable contributions to the development of Rivers State and the nation speak volume. As you continue in your selfless service to God and man, we pray that the Almighty God will grant you many more years of robust health and personal fulfilment.”

    Abe also wished the former Rivers governor a happy birthday and many happy returns of the day.

  • Rivers APC crisis: Abe seeks Buhari’s intervention

    Embattled All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, on Monday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly call warring party members in the state to order.

    Abe who spoke at a press briefing in Abuja also said that they were forced to go to court when it became clear that “all internal conflict resolution processes within the party had been compromised at the alter of individual power.”

    The Rivers South East senator noted that it was at the point of the realization that the internal conflict resolution within the party had been allegedly compromised that a decision was taken to advise aggrieved members of the party to head to the court and seek the intervention of the court.

    He noted that the need to appeal to President Buhari to intervene in the crisis became necessary in order to ensure that the party was not surrendered to “men without conscience.”

    The APC, he said, must distance itself from “the show of shame that is currently going on in River State.”

    On accusation that he was working with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to destabilize APC in the state, Abe noted that it was public knowledge that his dealings with the governor has been in the open and in the best interest of the APC to help douse tension in the state and minimize violence.

    Abe who titled his briefing “The APC must distance itself from the show of shame going on Rivers state.” Stated in part: “I have decided to address you this afternoon because it has become clear that my party the All Progressive Congress has reached a point where it must take a decision either to live up to the core values of our leader President Muhammadu Buhari and do the right thing or abandon our values and destroy our soul in other to please man.

    “You will recollect that I briefed the press before the ward congresses in Rivers State where I stated publicly, that the confusion that was deliberately being set in Rivers state was nothing other than an attempt to display the raw power of man, to destroy and exclude all those who have expressed disagreement with the leader of the party in the state.

    “The South South caucus of the party had met at the home of the Minister of Transportation, (Chibuike Amaech) in Abuja and directed that certain steps be taken by the leaders in the states to build confidence in the process before the congresses should begin.

    “First it was agreed that an all-inclusive meeting be called between Thursday and Friday preceding the ward congresses.

    “The meeting was to include all tendencies in the party and the modalities for congresses be discussed and agreed upon. It was also directed that the congress committee from Abuja should equally meet with all stakeholders on arrival and be briefed on the arrangements and agreements already reached in the state.

    “None of this was done in Rivers State rather a faction of the party led by the Minister proceeded with the exercise in total disdain of the rights and privileges of other members. Party members who paid money to the party were blatantly disenfranchised. All protests and appeals fell on deaf ears. After the purported failed exercise

     “Another South South caucus meeting was called this time at the home of Minister of State for Petroleum and it was agreed that the rules were not followed in Rivers State and the exercise in Rivers State was not acceptable.

    “However in other states where such conclusions were reached the caucus gave clear directives on what should be done to remedy the situation before the local Government congress.

    “In the case of Rivers State however it was decided that because it is the home state of the President’s DG of campaign the President should be briefed before any further action can be taken.

     “We all knew of the President’s planned travel and the Local Government congresses were set to proceed using the flawed ward congresses as a base.

     “At that point it became clear that all internal conflict resolution processes within the party had been compromised at the alter of individual power.

    “It was at this point that a decision was taken to advise aggrieved members of the party to head to the court and seek the intervention of the court.

    “Members went to court, the state legal adviser who had earlier with some other members of the state working committee held a press conference to say they were not aware of whatever was going on was in court and attested to this facts.

    “At this point the other faction now proceeded to circulate a document purportedly suspending the state legal adviser.

    “I am a member of the State executive committee no meeting of the state executive committee of the APC has ever been held in Rivers State. When how and by who was he suspended?

    “When all this failed, there was a bizarre decision by the same faction of the APC to blockade the judiciary complex in Rivers state and physically prevent the court from giving its ruling.

    “Physical force and arms were mobilized to shut down the judiciary complex, housing over 40 courts including the chief judges court, the NBA offices, and others, thousands of people, workers, litigants, were shut out.

    “It took a gun battle which has gone viral on social media to reopen the state judiciary. As if this was not enough, after the order was granted and was duly received by the state deputy chairman of the party, the national legal adviser sent one Barrister Tuduru Ede to the court.

    “National body was duly informed and the announcement of the order by the deputy chairman was on every radio station in Rivers state every hour.

    “The state publicity secretary of the party went one air to give legal reasons why the APC will not obey the order of the court.

    “This cannot be APC; this party cannot trade its soul to massage the ego of any individual. An order of the court is an order of the court. There must be a limit to which we can descend in obeisance to power.

    “I respectfully call on our president not to surrender our nation to men without conscience, this party must distance itself from the show of shame that is currently going on in Rivers state.

    “Finally to those who have accused me of conniving with Governor Nyesom Wike to cause crisis in the APC, let me say publicly that all my dealings with the governor has been public and in the best interest of the APC to help douse tension in the state and minimize violence.

    “Let others who belong to the same socio cultural and tribal association with the governor be bold enough to open up to the world the position of their elders, and the various interventions that form foundations for their actions in the APC in Rivers state. In politics sometimes the more you look the less you see.”

    Those at the briefing included Senator Wilson Ake, one of the senators who defected to APC during the 7th Senate, Hon. Chidi Frank Wihioka, Ikwere/Emohua Federal Constituency Rivers State and Hon. Maurice Pronen representing Khana/Gokona Federal Constituency Rivers State.

     

  • Amaechi ought to ensure level playing field for all aspirants in Rivers – Abe

    Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers Southeast) has stated that the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State and the Southsouth zone, ought to ensure a level playing field for all aspirants in the state.

    Abe, a governorship aspirant on APC’s platform, also noted that his disagreement with Amaechi, a former Rivers governor, was political.

    The former Secretary to the Rivers State Government in Amaechi’s administration (Abe), yesterday in an online statement by his spokesperson, Parry Benson, stressed that the transportation minister earlier publicly declared that he (Amaechi) would not support his (Abe’s) governorship aspiration.

    The senator said: “I am amused by some of these allegations and stories doing the rounds. For the records, the disagreement between me and the minister (Amaechi) is political. He is the leader of the party, but he has said publicly, on several occasions, that he can never support me.

    “That means the entire country knows that he cannot pretend to be neutral or an unbiased umpire in any matter in which my interest and the interests of those interested in me are concerned. Yet, as the leader, it is his responsibility to provide a level playing field for us all.”

    Abe, an ex-Rivers Commissioner for Information, also insisted that the people that converged on the APC’s state secretariat on Forces Avenue, old Government Reservation Area (GRA), Port Harcourt last Friday were not thugs, but members and supporters of the party.

    He said: “The people he (Amaechi) referred to as thugs and hoodlums were the same people that were his heroes yesterday. They were the people we used to block the Rivers State Judiciary (in Port Harcourt) when his government was threatened. They were the people that slept for many days outside the Rivers State House of Assembly to protect his government.

    Read Also: Nigeria needs N16.56tr for its rail projects — Amaechi

    “A lot of them were members of Save Rivers Movement who risked their lives and gave their all to birth the APC in this state. He knows a lot of them by name, but today they are thugs and hoodlums, because he is now the oppressor.

    “We are politicians. Tomorrow, when we need voters, who will these people now branded as thugs be? People paid for forms, they had their tellers and no one was telling them what was going on. They besieged the state secretariat for explanations.

    “Rather than the leader (Amaechi) to come and address the people, they brought armed policemen to open fire on innocent party men and women. The attack led to the pandemonium at the secretariat.

    “The people were there (at Rivers APC secretariat in Port Harcourt last Friday) from morning and there was no violence, until the policemen came and opened fire on APC members who were totally peaceful. Who authorised the shooting and why?”

    The transportation minister, while speaking with reporters in Port Harcourt after the protest, directly accused Abe of mobilising thugs to APC’s Rivers secretariat to vandalise, loot and destroy valuable property, because the senator did not want internal democracy through congresses/elections, while opting for undemocratic consensus candidature.

  • 2019 and Magnus Abe

    It is rightly considered of great benefits to every segment of the audience that the real understanding and meanings of what politics is, and who is a politician should not just be recalled but also rehearsed. The main reason been that for so long a time, and virtually in most circumstance, the meanings always affixed to those two words had often been so twisted out of real meanings and context, most times perhaps due to some innate considerations that their meanings must connote selfish pursuits and accomplishments that should not promote the welfare and wellbeing of any given society.

    Therefore, politics is a collectivity of activities involved in getting and using power in public life, and being able to influence decisions that affect a country or a society, while a politician in very ordinary circumstance or meaning is a person whose job is concerned with politics, especially in strict reference to distinguished Senator Magnus Abe, as an elected member of parliament of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Having set what constitutes a most veritable foundation for this discuss, what may necessarily arise is the big question as to who do Rivers people say Senator Magnus Ngei Abe is, or what kind of political readings have they been getting about this young Bera-Ogoni born politician, particularly right from when he launched into the always vibrant Rivers political waters. No doubt, opinions vary, but whatever may have been the political variables over the years, particularly from 1999 or the circumstances or even the vagaries of various political activities in Rivers State, and going by close watching of Rivers political events especially from the prism of a conscientious newsman of over thirty-eight years in Nigeria’s mega print media organizations, the Rivers public hold out Magnus Abe as an undisputed apostle of politics of  a bright and progressive future for the state. Better take it that even within the political rank and file of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, the consensus has over the years been that Senator Abe has so quietly and conscientiously successfully, introduced the politics of the future which clearly engages with new ideas, and this, they so seriously contend should be the right way to go in the governorship race in the state for 2019. Infact, in a recent friendly chat, a top flight elite of the ruling party PDP in the state had referred to Senator Abe as, “a rare Rivers politician who at every opportunity that offers itself preaches and promotes the politics of the future with creatively new ideas as the pillars”. My searches of recent months have revealed the quiet emergence of a group within the ruling party in the state so subterraneosuly rooting for Senator Abe’s success at not only the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primaries, but also desires that he trounces Governor Wike at the main governorship race, this is authoritative.

    It is therefore, important at this stage to clear the air, and for the utmost benefit of our dear readers to note that this piece is not anchored on any academic or intellectual permutations that find comfort in very spacious newspaper pages and on clearly riotous social media platforms, but on raw professionally tailored analysis that easily can find comfort even amongst the most ordinary of our society who are equally in tune with the most localized political events in the ever vibrant rural settings of Rivers State. Therefore, this is the period when purveyors of various socio-political ideas and analysis should strive to make the most meanings as they should enthrone the essence and lessons of less burdensome techniques of  effective connection with even those not so lettered in the rural communities on real political events  around them. Could it be that the distinguished Senator has over the years, especially from 1999 been responding to the dictates or the instincts of his gene having come from a political family in the farming Bera community in the present Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State?

    Besides that his late father, Rev. Canon Adolphus Leekagha Abe was one of the few cerebral and outstanding priests of the Anglican Communion in the Ogoni area, the same Reverend Abe was elected member of the Rivers State House of Assembly on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) during the second republic when he represented the then Kibangha State Constituency in the old Gokana Local Government Council. It could therefore be said that instead of Senetor Abe having his whole attention totally devoted to his professional practice as an advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, he yielded to what rightly could be referred to as the natural pressures from his gene- that is his resolve to latch on to his late father’s political legacy by actively participating in the 1998 politicking that produced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Peoples Party (APP). In 1999 he contested and won election into the Rivers State House of Assembly to represent Gokana State Constituency on the platform of the All Peoples Party (APP) then, which later transformed into All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).

    Recall that his political profile somewhat witnessed what in many political circles was regarded as a tremendous leap following his choice by his party as its leader (Minority Leader) in the state legislature, and that however, did not come as a surprise going by Abe’s tremendous political stature not only within the House, but the entire landscape of the Nigerian polity.

    According to close watchers of the then ANPP politics, this quantum rise in his profile was clearly driven by his pedigree. Note that Senator Abe traversed both the Rivers legislature and executive branches in this his unique political journey, and this unarguably puts him millions of miles ahead of whoever a section of the APC in Rivers State may want to bank on in the clearly challenging 2019 gubernatorial race.

    Abe was Commissioner of Information in Dr. Peter Odili’s cabinet.  Though not a professionally trained media person, he so meritoriously galvanized the state media industry and its practitioners so proficiently that he almost incurred the envy of his colleagues. Recall the “jaga-jaga wahala” that was the lot of the private media industry at the time, and how he so masterfully weathered through the turbulence to achieve calmness. The acumen he deployed in managing Odili’s media agenda was so legendry that it contributed hugely to the acclaimed performances of that administration, which in turn earned it numerous historic recognitions both locally and internationally. No apologies as this writer insists that Abe’s tenure in the state Information Ministry can very rightly be linked to that of quintessential late Dr. Chinyere Wokidu who was also a non-trained media person, but at the time of her appointment by then Col. Anthony Ukpo was the Principal of Holy Rosary Girls Secondary School. Wokidu’s outstanding tenure severally drew the admiration of various international organizations that partnered the state on various events.

    Remember his era as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) during former Governor Amaechi’s first term in office. His Manifest Competence in coordinating the implementation of state policies by the various ministries, departments and agencies contributed so immensely in the stabilization of an administration that was struggling to emerge from a tortuous political journey of 2006 and part of 2007.

    • Mr. Nyema wrote in from Port-Harcout
    • Continued online www.staging.thenationonlineng.net
  • Aide clears air on Rivers APC chieftain Celestine’s attack on Magnus Abe

    Aide clears air on Rivers APC chieftain Celestine’s attack on Magnus Abe

    One of the aides to the lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, Kennedy Barileilo Friday, yesterday explained why a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ogoni, AkpoBari Celestine, has declared war on the senator.

    Friday alleged that the refusal of Abe, the Chairman, Senate Committee on FERMA, to buy a requested house in Port Harcourt for Celestine, made him (Celestine) to continually fight him, not considering the fact that he had no money to buy the house. Abe, an indigene of Bera-Ogoni in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers/ex-Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), was a governorship aspirant of APC in 2015, and presently aspiring to be the standard bearer of the party in Rivers in 2019, while Celestine has also indicated interest to occupy the Brick House (Government House), Port Harcourt in 2019, on APC’s platform. Friday said: ” Before and immediately after the gruelling and tasking December 2016 rerun election, Celestine had told Senator Abe to buy him a house, that Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation Minister/former Rivers governor) said Abe should buy for him (Celestine) somewhere in Port Harcourt. Abe replied that he was speaking with the minister everyday and that the minister never mentioned that to him and that the minister could not have asked him to buy Celestine a house, without mentioning where he would get resources to buy the house.

    “That is the assistance Celestine was talking about on the pages of newspaper (in earlier interview) and he (Celestine) should have been honest enough to state it clearly, instead of creating a wrong impression about Abe. “Ever since then, Celestine has been on WhatsApp and on Facebook, castigating Senator Abe, as if they are quarrelling over anything. Celestine has continued to present himself as the person who can take on Senator Abe and he is obviously now allowing himself to be used in that role. And you wonder, how can he succeed at that? How will that answer whatever ambition he claims to have?”

  • Sen. Abe condemns recent killings in Rivers

    Sen. Abe condemns recent killings in Rivers

    Sen. Magnus Abe, representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, on Tuesday condemned the killing of 20 persons in some communities in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers.

    Abe made the condemnation in a statement issued by his Spokesman, Mr Parry Benson, in Port Harcourt.

    According to him, no fewer than 20 people were killed on January 5; several houses were burnt in the past few days following coordinated attacks by suspected cultists in Asarama, Unyeada and Ajakajak communities.

    Read also: Rivers PDP chair hails security agencies, Wike for ending killings

    Abe expressed his condolence to the families of those who lost their lives, property and those injured during the attacks.

    The Lawmaker called on the security agencies to work round the clock and ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime were brought to book.

    “Every life is precious and no one has the right to take the life of another, because all lives belong to God, the Creator.

    “I pray that God will give strength to all families directly affected by this tragedy,” he said.

    Abe appealed to all Rivers communities to be good neighbours, provide security and comfort to any displaced persons that fled to their communities for safety.

    “We must find strength to stand together and defeat this evil,” he said.

    NAN

  • Senate summons Fayemi over Zamfara lead poisoning

    Senate summons Fayemi over Zamfara lead poisoning

    The Senate on Tuesday, summoned the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to appear before it and brief on the ministry’s mining roadmap and implementation framework.

    The minister is also expected to brief the upper chamber on how the ministry intended to ensure protection of the residents of mining host communities against lead poisoning and other hazards.

    This followed the resolution of the Senate sequel to a motion by Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos) and four other senators.

    The motion is on the “Update on Lead Poisoning in Zamfara and the need to prevent further propagation of the resources theory”.

    She said that the senate received with great distress, updates on lead poisoning which occurred in 36 villages and communities in Zamfara.

    “It was observed that besides Zamfara, mining host communities in states like Kogi, Niger and others have also been affected by the negative effects of mining practices.

    While noting that Nigeria did not qualify as a mining state, she said that the 2016 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) breakdown showed the mining sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP as abysmal.

    “It revealed that the nation’s mining sector is almost redundant, that the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Fayemi, is working to resuscitate the sector, and that the ministry has approved a mining roadmap.”

    In his contribution, Sen. Magnus Abe (APC-Rivers) urged the senate to make use of the opportunity to address the situation before what happened in the Niger Delta repeated itself.

    “This is how the situation in the Niger Delta started and the communities paid for it, because there are no laws in the country governing mining of minerals.

    “The institutions are weak and ineffective and sometimes, we have the institutions running over themselves doing the same thing and the communities suffering for it.

    “We have to use this opportunity to set it right before it gets out of hand and before we have another Niger Delta situation in this country,” Abe said.

    In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at plenary, said that the senate must pursue its mandate by putting things right.

    “We are aware that a lot of illegal mining is going on and we must set things right,” he said.

    After the debate, the lawmakers mandated its Committee on Environment and Solid Minerals to visit the affected communities to ascertain the level of damage done and report back.

    The senate further directed committee to investigate the activities of the Ministry of Environment as it affected the mining sector.

    The upper chamber equally urged the minister to ensure adoption of safer mining methods by mining concerns.

    NAN

  • Breaking: Appeal Court upholds Sekibo’s sack

    Breaking: Appeal Court upholds Sekibo’s sack

    …Affirms Abe’s election

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the sack of Senator George Thompson Sekibo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), representing Rivers East Senatorial District in the Senate.

    In a unanimous judgment Thursday, a three-man of the appellate court, dismissed Sekibo’s appeal, upheld the decision of the election tribunal, which earlier sacked the Senator and ordered that he be replaced by Andrew Uchendu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In another judgement, the same panel of the Court of Appeal upheld the election of APC’s Magnus Abe as Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District.

    The court affirmed the judgment of the legislative election tribunal delivered on June 27, 2017 and dismissed the appeal by Olaka Nwogu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on the grounds that it was without merit.

  • Senate seeks more funds for completion of East/West road

    Senate seeks more funds for completion of East/West road

    …Hails NDDC for intervention

     

    The Senate Wednesday asked the Federal Government to source for funds for the immediate completion of the East/West road.

    The upper chamber said that apart from government funding, alternative source of fund the road construction should be explored to ensure the completion of the road especially the sections along Aba/Eleme road junction to Onne road junction.

    The resolution followed a motion on “Urgent need to complete the East/West road’ sponsored by Senators George Thompson Sekibo (Rivers East), Magnus Abe (Rivers South East) and 22 others.

    Senator Abe particularly lamented the deplorable state of the road and commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for taking steps to repair failed sections of the road.

    Abe said that it was noteworthy that the NDDC has taken the initiative to do the needful on the road and prayed the Senate to ensure more funds for the intervention agency.

    Sekibo in his lead debate noted that the construction of the 675 km dual carriage way EAST/West Road was awarded by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006 at the contract sum of N211 billion.

    He said that an additional 23.9km to link Calabar with the coastal town of Oron in Akwa Ibom State was included in the contract by former President Goodluck Jonathan making the road accessible by all the major oil producing areas of the Niger Delta region.

    Sekibo recalled that the project could not commence in 2007 as it was not included in the 2007 Appropriation Act.

    He said that during President Umaru Yar’Adua not much could be achieved because of lack of engineering drawing for the project, which was eventually achieved.

    He said that Senate should be worried that about 11 years from the date of contract award, the East/West road, which was an outcome of negotiation with the agitating Niger Delta Youths, still suffers neglect and disdain by the government.

    Sekibo said that the Senate should be more worried about the state of the section that link Aba road to Onne road junction in Rivers State, which links other parts of the country to multibillion investments including Port Harcourt Refinery 1 and 2, and others.

    He prayed that Senate to resolve to urge the Ministry of Niger Delta to ensure the completion of the road particularly the section that link the multi-national investments within the 2017 budget year.

    He also prayed the Senate to direct its committee on Niger Delta to ensure compliance with the resolution and report back within four weeks. The prayers were adopted.

    On the prayer that Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) should as a matter of urgency intervene in the rehabilitation of the failed sections of the road, Abe argued that it might be unnecessary to do that since the NDDC Was already working on the road.