Rivers People Will Determine Next Governor, Not Wike, Says Abe

Former representative of Rivers South-East senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, has stated that it is the Rivers people that will determine who will becomes the next governor of the state, not the incumbent state Governor, Nyesom Wike. He pointed out that the governor had on several occasions said the people of the state would decide his successor, therefore, he should not change his position by imposing a governor on the people in 2023. Abe, who made the assertion at the weekend, insisted that the future of Rivers State is more important to the people of the state than the pleasure of any individual. According to him, "If the president of Nigeria, who is more powerful than the governor, cannot decide who will be the next president to succeed him, then the governor of Rivers State will not decide who will succeed him. "That issue will be decided by the people of Rivers State. And let me also quote the governor himself. He has said on different occasions that he will allow the people of Rivers State to decide his successor, and I know him as a man of his word. "I believe that he will do everything possible to create an atmosphere in which those who are interested in succeeding him regardless of their political party will have a fair chance to contest.” Abe expressed the optimism that he has very bright chances of winning the 2023 governorship election in Rivers State, considering the fact that he has never lost in any election in the state before. On his chances of participating as a candidate at the gubernatorial election, Abe said: "What chances do I have in the state? Very bright chances! I always win elections. I don't lose elections in Rivers State. The contest is always tense because the contest of power is always tense but somebody must win. "The important thing is that we should allow the people of the state to decide. I am ready to abide by whatever the people of Rivers State decide. I am ready to submit myself. I don't even want to lead a people who don’t want me to lead them, because the kind of dreams and visions that I have for my state is such that I need the people to work with me to be able to achieve something. "So if they don't choose me, and I impose myself on them, I know that the plans we are making will not work because I need their support and I need them to work with me. I don't want to be a leader who is going to where the people are not going. So I don't even want to be the governor without the endorsement and strong support of Rivers people. "So, I am presenting myself to them, and I will tell them the plans we have. I will tell them what I think that we can do with the state. I will tell them where I think we can go, and if they are interested in coming with me, then we will go together. If they are not interested, it's not a problem. "But, rather than stay and continue to waste the time of the people with APC that has not shown any capacity in Rivers State to be able to overcome any challenges and deliver on the electoral expectations of its members, I have decided to do what a politician should do, which is to look for a platform that will give me the privilege and the opportunity to fly their flag and present myself, my ideas and our commitment to the people of Rivers State, that's where we are."