The lingering crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State has been described as not been handled in the PDP way, as the party has its own method of resolving issues since inception.
Distinguished Senator Magnus Ngei Abe of the Rivers South East Senatorial District made the disclosure last Monday in Port Harcourt while fielding questions from journalists.
Senator Abe revealed that in the PDP when there is an issue, the party has its own way to resolve such issues as it was always refers to as “the PDP way” but regretted that the current crisis in the party is not handled in such known way rather in a strange one.
The Distinguished Senator went further to state that those cursing the crisis in the Rivers chapter of PDP are the real enemies of President Jonathan.
Abe, while reacting to a question on the Party’s decision for Gov. Amaechi to tender an apology to the Party maintained that he cannot speak for Gov. Amaechi as the governor is the rightful person to apologize or not if he has done anything that would want apology or not.
But he advice the party against deviating from the norms of the party rather follow the usual way of resolving issues in the party. “I have said it before and I will say it again. Those who are working against peace in the PDP do not mean well for President Jonathan. If they mean well for the president they would not have allowed the kind of crisis in the state now, PDP has always been a big party with big problems. But there is a PDP way of solving PDP problems but what they are doing now is not in the PDP way. The PDP is always a family that handles their problems in a family way….” Abe explained.
Senator Magnus Ngei Abe spoke on several issues bothering on physical projects in Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro, implementation of UNEP report and political situation in the state.
The senator reacted to these issues raise by journalists during the formal presentation of micro cassette recorders to journalists from the South-East senatorial District.
It could be recalled that distinguished senator Abe had on 31st December, 2012 while playing host to the journalists promised to provide micro recorders to those in attendance on the courtesy visit.
He made the promise in accordance with the journalists quests to foster a robust journalism practice in the state, saying that he is keen to see journalism grow in the country, hence his gift of the tool.
In a swift surprise to the journalists the elated Senator Abe disclosed his resolved to train nine (9) journalists in the International Institute of Journalism, IIJ, Port Harcourt centre.
He frown at a situation where knowledge is no longer respected in the country but journalists like Dele Giwa and Bala Muhamed have make their mark in the profession.
Meanwhile, the Senator representing South-East Senatorial District, Rivers State in the senate and the chairman Petroleum downstream sector Hon. Magnus Abe said the implementation of the UNEP Report should be now.
Senator Abe noted that the Federal Government have no justification for delaying the implementation of the UNEP report as the Ogonis watches on.
He said years after, the Ogoni people are only waiting for the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to take the bull by the horn and not to stand aloof.
The Senator who was a one time minority leader in the Rivers State House of Assembly and a commissioner of Information Rivers State maintained that the Obasanjo and Yar’Adua administrations have made concerted effort in the issues concerning the UNEP report but worried about the sudden delay by our own son from the Niger Delta.
Responding the Chairman of NUJ Rivers State, Mr. Opaka Dokubo thanked senator Abe for the gesture and promised that the journalist will show skill in their reportage.
Also speaking, the chairman of the group, Mr. Barivule Akpo who double as chairman, Ogoni Journalists Platform and Publisher of News Daily Newspaper thanked the senator for keeping to his promises, leadership by example and identifying with journalists in his district and state.
Mr. Akpo also called on others in government to emulate the leadership style of Senator Magnus Abe by supporting the journalism profession in the state. ###
James Mgboineme,
Pius Dukor, Mene Gbarabe
