‘Dont Put Loyalty Over Competence’ – Magnus Abe Reacts To Rift Between Wike, Fubara

The former Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate for Rivers State, Magnus Abe, has expressed concern about the recurrence of political crises in the state.

Naija News reports that Rivers State has been enmeshed in a political crisis following the plot to impeach the State Governor, Sim Fubara, by the members of the State House of Assembly loyal to Wike.

In an interview on Arise News on Thursday, Abe said the ongoing political tension in the state calls for concern, stating that the state will continue to suffer significant losses due to internal conflicts.

The former lawmaker also emphasised the urgent need for a peaceful resolution, highlighting the detrimental consequences of political conflicts on the state and its people.

The SDP chieftain also appealed to all parties involved to find common ground and avoid prioritising loyalty over honesty, integrity, competence, and capacity.

He said: “In Rivers State today, we are not conscious of the figures in what we discuss. How many Rivers people have access to good drinking water? How many of our youths have jobs?

“How many people have access to electricity? What is the quality of public education? We need to be talking about all these figures, but instead, all the focus, all the money, will now go to politics, and at the end of the day, it is the Rivers people that are going to suffer.

“I would like to appeal to all the parties, and I’m saying this in utmost good faith, to find accommodation. Nobody is too big, and nobody is too small. This whole idea of someone being so much more powerful than the other and, therefore, his position must be absolute in terms of whatever agreements and negotiations are necessary to ensure peace is what always brings these problems.

“In Nigerian politics, our tendency is to award loyalty above anything else. When we discount honesty, integrity, competence, and capacity and focus only on loyalty, we end up in a situation where everyone around the big man is loyal and over time, they get isolated from the reality of what is actually happening to the common people. Instead of having a government of the people, you end up with a people of the government.”

Senator Abe further emphasised the need for the focus to shift from political power struggles to addressing the crucial issues affecting the people of Rivers State and the need to prioritise the welfare of the people above all else.