My Re-Election Is In The Best Interest Of Rivers- Abe

Abe, who said this while speaking with journalists at his residence in Port Harcourt said that if voted for, he would be the only ranking senator of APC in both South-South and South-East, which would confer to him certain privileges which will be in the best interest of the people and the region.

A statement issued by his spokesperson, Parry Saroh Benson, on Monday read, “The interest of Rivers State will be better protected with me in the 8th Senate. I am the only returning member of the senate from the South-South and South-East, who served in the 7th Senate that is aspiring at this point to return to the 8th Senate.

“It therefore, means that from both the South-South and South-East, I will be the only high ranking member of the All Progressives Congress in as a Senator from the region. As a member of the ruling party at that level, you have access to meetings and caucuses that will influence decisions in the country, which somebody from a minority party will not be able to have access because he is not part of the political party.

“By the strength of God, today, the All Progressives Congress is the party in power in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I think that common sense, wisdom and the interest of our people should determine that we should send people who will be in the position to have access to the government and work with the government in the interest of the larger Rivers community. Between me and all my opponents in this re-run elections, I am the only person who meets that criteria”.

According to him, his previous performance in the senate towers above his opponents including out-of-pocket development projects he had sited in various communities in the district also makes the difference.

He further explained that he was happy to observe that in course of his visits to the communities, the people could point out one development programme or the other he had put in place in their areas.

“Every community I go to, most of the communities start by thanking me, saying, we want to thank you for this and that, because I have been involved in uplifting the lives of the people of Rivers South-East Senatorial District”.

Abe stated that he was convinced his opponents could not boast of such achievements and urged the electorate to discountenance sentiments and put the interest of the State above partisan politics.

He explained that he decided to embark on personal development project and empowerment programmes to appreciate the support the people had given him, stressing that if he were like others, such private fund would been used for ostentatious living.

He enjoined the media to support him not only as a candidate for the election but as one that is part of the media constituency, having served as an award-winning former commissioner for information in the State.

He said, “We should make the forthcoming re-run elections about what will bring peace, progress and prosperity to Rivers State. I already see the dangerous signal of this contest deteriorating into another era of civil war if we don’t restrain ourselves, our comments, turn from baseless personal attacks and focus on the issues that affect our people.

“I believe that the people of Rivers State over the past few months have suffered a lot from this politics of destruction. It is time for us to now address politics of building and I extend my both hands to all my opponents to join me to run issue based campaign, keep violence out of this politics and mobilize our people so that they can come out and make their choice”.