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INEC has slated Saturday, the 30th of July, for the rerun election in Rivers South-East Senatorial district. The ordinary man on the street will on that day have a big say in the political future of this district. The failure of leadership is at the heart of all our problems as a people, and so we will on that day have an opportunity to choose between a proper leader and a stooge who does not have a mind of his own. The business of the senate requires experience, gravitas, boldness and connections, and we will on that day have an opportunity to choose Magnus Abe who is an embodiment of all of those qualities.
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It was a visibly angry Magnus Abe who walked up to Saraki and said, “If you people don’t screen my friend today, you will see what will happen here.” Magnus Abe is a man who has unhindered access to the presidency, and that is the type of person any senatorial district in the world would want. Magnus Abe has projects scattered all over the senatorial district, he has touched the lives of thousands, both directly and indirectly, and has a political structure all over the country that sets him up as a shining light of Nigerian politics.
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We can’t afford to make another bad choice, all of man’s poverty comes from his inability to use the big grey matter that God gave to him to make the right choice for his life. Only a man with a bitter twisted-mindset, an utter moron, perhaps, would choose Mr. Olaka Nwogu over Senator Magnus Abe. But for the wise, there is no comparison… If you want to talk about state creation, Magnus Abe is the better advocate, Olaka Nwogu cannot even come out of his shell? If you want to talk about UNEP Report, Magnus Abe has spoken much louder than any other person, never mind Olaka Nwogu who is an embodiment of contradictions?
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Now, let’s look at the prospect of Senator Magnus Abe in the Senate? I will say to you something, he is strategically placed to be at the center of endless possibilities in the Senate. There are positions no Rivers man has ever held in the Senate, and Magnus Abe will inspire that dream. I don’t have to go into the details, but if Abe does not get A, there is a high likelihood that he would get B, and with B alone, he would be able to do a lot of things. He could appoint as many as 70 SAs and have real influence in the change agenda of Nigeria. The PDP is aware. That is why Wike is terrified, but the truth is, nobody can stop him without the help of our people. It is indeed a thing of pride that this senatorial district finally has a ripe fruit that everyone wants to throw stones at.
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For Ogoni people, Ken Saro Wiwa warned us not to be foolish. We’ve spoken about marginalisation for ages, we complain how we’re not given our pride of place in the big scheme of things. And then now, God has placed in our hands the chance to put one of our own in a position of real influence. No true son of Ogoni would do anything to scupper that chance.
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Abe has been declared winner in Opobo. He is the winner in Oyigbo. He won in Eleme and Tai, but we’re waiting for INEC to tell us their positions in those LGAs. Whatever happens, if INEC wants us to do it again, then we will do it again like we’ve always done before. In fact, there is nowhere in this senatorial district that Olaka Nwogu can defeat Magnus Abe. This rerun may happen in 3 or 5 LGAs, four of which are in Ogoniland. A victory in two or three out of those LGAs would take us home and dry. So thank God that nature has placed in our hands, Ogoni people, the power to decide our own destiny.
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Finally, I think it’s time people dropped their party sentiments and look at the big picture. Politics is about interest, not just individual interest, but mainly the collective interest of your people. Will you support Olaka Nwogu who has told the world several times he’s not from Ogoni, or would you send someone who has been with us through thick and thin to speak for you? This question is what we must all answer. Happy
