The former Social Democratic Party (SDP) gubernatorial candidate for Rivers State, Magnus Abe, has raised concerns about the recurring political crises in the state. Reports from Naija News indicate that Rivers State is currently embroiled in a political crisis due to the attempt to impeach the State Governor, Sim Fubara, by members of the State House of Assembly loyal to Wike.

In an interview on Arise News on Thursday, Abe expressed worry about the ongoing political tension in the state, emphasizing that the internal conflicts will continue to inflict significant losses on the state.

The former lawmaker stressed the urgent need for a peaceful resolution, highlighting the adverse consequences of political conflicts on the state and its residents.

Abe, a prominent figure in the SDP, appealed to all parties involved to seek common ground and avoid prioritizing loyalty over honesty, integrity, competence, and capacity.

He stated, “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 underscored the need for a shift in focus from political power struggles to addressing the crucial issues affecting the people of Rivers State and prioritizing the welfare of the people above all else.