Being In APC Shouldn’t Stop Me From Mingling With PDP Members – Sen. Abe

Senator Magnus Abe, lawmaker representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District of the All Progressives Congress, says being a politician does not deprive him of mingling with friends from other political parties.

Abe in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by his Spokesperson, Parry Saroh Benson, said he was shocked to see all sorts of offensive things written against him because he attended a reception in honour of Senator ThankGod Ideozu, who is of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The senator also cleared the air on his picture with Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, at the reception.

Abe said as a Senator representing Rivers, he cannot see the governor of his state and fail to acknowledge him.

The senator said, “I was surprised to see young people being sponsored to write unprintable things about me on social media because of my presence at the reception held in honour of my friend and colleague Senator ThankGod Ideozu.

“I have said severally that my friends and supporters should learn from me what I learnt from my late father “inherit and share my friends but make your own enemies.

“These young politicians are being brought up on a diet of hate towards people about whom they know little or nothing. They are also being taught never to forgive. An unforgiving spirit is dangerous to a happy life. If you know I have done you no harm, please tone it down.

“Senator Ideozu was Minority Whip of the Rivers State House of Assembly and one of the members who actively worked to make me the Minority Leader of the House. He was my colleague in the Rivers State Executive Council as Commissioner for Finance while I was Secretary to the Government, and today we are colleagues in the Senate. Why won’t I be at his reception if I am invited?

“As to my picture with Governor Nyesom Wike, I don’t want to go into my personal history with Governor Wike; that is a story for another day. The reality of today is that Governor Wike is the Governor of my State I have always called on the Governor to be a Governor to all Rivers people without regard to party, tribe or creed and that includes me.

“I cannot say that and fail to acknowledge the Governor when I meet him in a public function. What example will I be showing the young ones if as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I see the Governor of my own state in a public function and shun or ignore him because of our differences in party affiliation?

“I am irrevocably determined and committed to the avowed objective of our party the APC to recover Rivers state from the PDP, and align our people properly with the center. We should do that in a manner that respects our core values as a people and enriches our dignity as human beings.

“By the special grace of God, I won’t cease from doing what I believe to be right. Whenever I can do so, I will always treat people I know with respect and decorum in public. That is my way of letting the world know that I am the son of Late Rev Canon A. L. Abe.”