Senator Magnus Abe, representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has frowned at the use of force on people of the South-South geo-political zone to support the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Abe, who spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, also said that there was no need to heat up the polity ahead of 2015 general elections since the constitution guarantees freedom of association and choice of who to support.
He berated those who think no other person from the South-South zone should aspire for a higher office in a democracy just because Mr Jonathan wants to seek reelection in 2015.
He noted that the South-South zone was able to produce a president due to a zoning arrangement and that the people of the region do not constitute majority in the country, hence the need not to abuse the benefits.
He condemned the various attacks on Governor of Rivers State and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, because of his perceived opposition to the second term ambition of President Jonathan, saying that while the president has the constitutional right to seek for reelection, Amaechi also has the constitutional right to support whoever he wants.
Senator Abe said: “Those who acknowledge that the President has a constitutional right to contest must also acknowledge the constitutional right of others to support whoever they want. The constitution is for everybody.
“The best thing for us to do in this country; whether North, East, South, West or South-South, is to allow our politics to be driven by ideas. Those who feel strongly enough about something, regardless of where they come from must be allowed to canvass their opinions and express their feelings.”
The senator said: “Governor Amaechi remains a leading light in the country as a performer under our democracy,” pointing out that his developmental strides will speak for him at the appropriate time.”
He added: “Amaechi has already achieved a lot for Rivers people in different sectors. A leader with a focus and we will continue to support him under rain or sun. We must leave a legacy for the people of the state through the projects of this government.”
Its a pity that a man who relied on people from another Senatorial districts to intervene for his own Senatorial Zone. Now he is speaking out loud when he can’t even convince his people why he should represent them. So you feel Rivers State Governor Amaechi would give you automatic tickets to Government house to be the next Governor when he is a failure to his own state for not obeying the rules and regulations of the Judiciary that brought him in as Governor of the State. Its a shame that a Lawyer of your kind you speak with both part of your mouth undermining the masses who needs this change to affect them with their payments of tax yet few fellows seat down and allocate it to their numerous bank accounts. God will fight you out soon. Thank God for transformation agenda which will eradicate so many evils in the country starting from the state levels.