Rivers Needs Leaders With Ideas, Not Firepower —Abe

Rivers Needs Leaders With Ideas, Not Firepower —Abe

Senator Magnus AbePORT HARCOURT—The senator representing Rivers South-East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, has said that Rivers State needs men of great ideas and wisdom at the helm of affairs and not men with great firepower.

Abe, who is a governorship aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, noted that he had on many occasions been a victim of political violence.

He further opined that the state needs a new narrative to make meaningful progress, adding that recurrent reports of political violence portray the state in bad light.

The senator spoke, weekend, while addressing the people of Ekpeye during the coronation of the traditional ruler of Ula-Okobo community in Ahoada-West Local Government Area of the state, Eze Ekaki S. Ekaki.

Abe said: “I believe that Rivers State needs a new narrative that is not anchored on violence, that is not predicated on who has more firepower, but who has more ideas.

“I believe that this time around, Nigerians are looking for men of ideas,  people with bold visions and clear directions that can move the state in a progressive and more dynamic direction.

“I have said that anytime you put on the television and you hear people talk about Rivers State in terms of politics, it is always in terms of violence. But I know that violence cannot solve any of the problems in Rivers State.

“I have perpetually been a victim of violence. In last year’s election, I was attacked and my supporters were attacked several times. My office was destroyed and burnt. I never responded. I never bought guns for any youth in this state.

“This time also, the secretariat we were trying to open in Port Harcourt was attacked. People came there with guns and destroyed the place. But, I told my supporters not to respond to any act of violence. Why? Because we do not have to destroy the same Rivers State that we are trying to salvage.

“I am a living proof that you can win elections without killing anybody and without attacking anybody. I have done it several times and we will do it again.”