Senator Abe Set to Retain Seat without Sweat on March 28

On March 28th, 2015 the people of Rivers State and Nigerians in general will troop out to elect a new President, Senators and members of the Federal House of Representatives. Nigerians have resolved to elect only credible and capable leaders this time around, so it becomes imperative to present and highlight the credentials of those the All Progressives Congress (APC) is presenting for this election of March 28th. We all know that with the adoption of the card reading machine by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) of APC will surely win the presidential election by majority votes. In view of this, my attention will not be on Buhari but on National Assembly candidates that APC will on March 28th be unleashing on the hapless Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose mission in Rivers State is inimical to the security and future of our State – explaining why the party has been rejected by the people of Rivers State.

The first in this list is no other person than MOST DISTINGUISHED SENATOR MAGNUS NGEI ABE, who is currently the Senator representing the South-East Senatorial Zone. Senator Abe has all it takes to sweep the polls as none of his challengers is a match to him in any way whatsoever. Senator Abe is a lawyer by profession, an administrator par excellence, a political strategist of repute, an information expert and the best Commissioner for Information ever in Rivers State.

Abe entered politics in 1999 when he was elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly, serving as Minority Leader. In 2003 he defected to PDP, and from 2003 to 2007 he was Commissioner of Information in the administration of Governor Peter Odili. When Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi assumed office in May 2007, Abe was appointed Secretary to the Rivers State Government. He resigned to contest for the position of Senator for Rivers South-East, which he won. He is Chairman of the Petroleum Downstream Committee and member of the National Population & Identity Card Committee in the Senate. Senator Abe is one of the two great Nigerians that Governor Amaechi respects for their high intelligence – the other being Rivers APC gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside.

FULL DETAILS ON THE FOOTPRINTS OF MAGNUS ABE

EDUCATION

Procured forms for over 1200 JAMB candidates drawn from the seven LGAs in the Rivers South-East Senatorial District.

Assisted 900 final year students through his annually school fees support scheme.

Assisted 120 Students through his annually Law School support initiative.

Granted scholarship to a Young Boy from Deeyor Community to study from JS 1 – 3 and two others from Eweh Community.

Provided 9 Journalists from the Senatorial District Scholarship covering Post-graduate, Higher and diploma in Journalism.

Awarded Scholarship worth N100,000.00 each to 159 students from the District to study in higher institution.

Sponsoring 10 girl child at the cost of N3,000,000.00 annually in St. Martins De Porres Girls College, Ubima, Ikwerre LGA.

Provides monthly stipends to student leaders in the 7 LGAs

Sponsored the training of graduates at the Workmanship Training and Technical Center of RSSDA.

Donated computers to Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt.

SKILL ACQUISITIONS

Graduate Skill Acquisition project – 40 beneficiaries.

Youth skills acquisition program in the following communities: Bera 20, Kwawa 12, Andoni 21, Eleme 30, Boue 3, Biara 7 and Gwara 10.

WATER PROJECTS

Rehabilitation of Industrial Borehole covering 5 communities in Ahoada East LGA with 27KVA Generator.

Donated Water Borehole to Kaani II, Khana LGA with a Generator

Constructed Water Borehole in Duburo Community, Khana LGA with a generator.

Constructed Water Borehole in Oyorokotor Community in Andoni LGA with a generator.

Provided Water Borehole in Kira Community, Tai LGA with a generator.

Donated Water Borehole to Olukanam Community, Andoni LGA with a generator.

Constructed Water Borehole in Bera Community, Gokana LGA with a generator.

Provided Water Borehole in Giokoo Community, Gokana LGA with a generator.

Donated Water Borehole to Nchia Market traders, Alode in Eleme LGA with a generator.

Constructed Water Borehole in Oyigbo LGA with a generator.

Provided Water Borehole in Baen Community, Khana LGA with a generator.

Donated Water Borehole to Sogo Community, Khana LGA with a generator.

ELECTRICITY

Electrification project in Kaa Community, Khana LGA.

Rehabilitated electricity project in Gwara Community, Khana LGA.

Extended electricity project to the following Communities in Khana LGA: Luubara, Gure, Eweh, Pue, Duburo, Zaakpon, Sii, Kabangha, Luumene Bangha, Luegbo Beeri Bangha, Luere Beeri, Nyokuru, Bianu, Luuwa, Nyogor Lueku, Korokoro Lueku, Lueku Bangha, Koro Bangha, Kere Bangha, Nyobe Bangha and Bionu Bangha at the cost of N21,000,000.00.

Paid electricity bill of N7,000,000.00 owed by communities in Khana LGA.

Procured and distributed Transformers to the following communities: Bera and Deeyor, Gokana LGA; Nkoro Community, Opobo/Nkoro LGA; Kpite, Tai LGA and Mgboji, Oyigbo LGA.

Presently linking Ajakajak Community in Andoni to the national grid with two high tension tower’s line and installation of 500kva transformer for the electrification of the community.

HOUSING

Reconstruction and completion of Biara Community Town Hall, Gokana LGA.

Construction of a 3 bedroom apartment for a less privileged woman in Deeyor Community, Gokana LGA.

Donation towards the construction of the Palace of the Paramount Ruler of Deeyor Community, Gokana LGA.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Rehabilitated Kono waterside Jetty for use by the people of Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni and neighbouring Ikot-Abasi, Akwa-Ibom State.

Graded a 10km access road from East-West expressway to Kaani II, Khana LGA.

Graded access road in Kono Community, Khana LGA

Constructed a major culvert in Kono Community, Khana LGA

Constructed a footbridge in K-Dere, Gokana LGA.

Built a state of the art secretariat for National Union of Ogoni Student with computers and generator etc.

Provided relief materials to the people of Oronija Community, Andoni LGA.

Provided 50 midgets (micro tape recorders) to journalists from the 7 LGAs that make up the Rivers South-East Senatorial District.

Renovated Jetty and bus stop in Kaa Community, Khana LGA.

HEALTH/SANITATION

Sponsored free eye testing and correction for school children in the senatorial zone.

Led HIV/AIDs awareness campaign in Gokana LGA

Led a special sanitation exercise in Bera Community, Gokana LGA

SPECIAL EMPOWERMENT SCHEME

Provided 24 sewing machines to Eweh community, Khana LGA and another 15 yet to be distributed.

Provided fishing gears to Oyorokoto fishing port, Andoni LGA.

Donated motorcycle to 51 beneficiaries under his free transport scheme, Gokana LGA and 30 in Oyigbo LGA.

Donated 19 motorcycle to the 19 wards in Khana LGA

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Supported 50 market women in Oyigbo with N2,000,000.00 for small scale business.

Donated 1,100 wrappers to women of Opobo/Nkoro LGA.

Donated 1,900 wrappers to women in the 19 wards of Khana LGA.

Donated 1,700 wrappers to women of Gokana LGA

Donated 1,000 wrappers to women of Eleme LGA

Donated 1,000 wrappers to women of Tai LGA

Donated 1,100 wrappers to women of Andoni LGA

Donated 1,000 wrappers to women of Oyigbo LGA.

Donated 17 ladies motorcycle to the 17 ward women leaders in Gokana LGA.

Empowerment of 100 women in Bori.

PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Contributed towards the enthronement of peace in several communities across the Senatorial District.

RELATIONSHIP WITH NON-INDIGENES

Financial support to non-indigenes in Rivers State.

Donated 1,000 wrappers to female non-indigenes in Rivers State.

SUPPORT TO RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

Donated a brand new bus to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Gokana chapter.

Supported evangelistic activities in Bori and Degema

Fixing of tiles in The Apostolic Church Auditorium, Bera, Gokana LGA.

CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS

Construction of Primary School at Rumusoya Community, Oyigbo LGA.

Construction of Primary School in Sogho Community, Khana LGA.

Construction of State-of-the-art laboratory block for the Department of Anatomy, University of Port Harcourt.

Construction of an Administrative Block for the Faculty of Law, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.

MDG PROJECTS

Facilitated the implementation of the following MDG projects in the Senatorial District, presently at 68% completion.

Computer centre/accessories/furniture at Kpite, Tai LGA.

Computer centre/accessories/furniture at Ngo, Andoni LGA

Computer centre/accessories/furniture at Nonwa, Tai LGA

Solar borehole/accessories at Obure Egberu, Oyigbo LGA.

Solar borehole/accessories at Kwawa, Khana LGA.

LEGISLATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES/ACHIEVEMENTS

Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream).

Member, Senate Committee, Capital Market

Member, Senate Committee, INEC

Member, Senate Committee on National ID and National Population.

Member, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.

Member, Senate Committee, MDGs

Chairman, Senate Joint Committee to investigate the Administration of the fuel subsidy scheme.

Senator Magnus Abe initiated the Local Refineries (licensing) Bill. The Bill is aimed at enhancing the construction of local refineries by private companies and individuals.

Conclusion

Senator Magnus Abe has distinguished himself as the hallmark of selfless service to humanity. If the election of any politician is based on merit, then the people of Rivers State, particularly those in the South Eastern section of the State, have no alternative than to re-elect this great son of Rivers State into the Senate with a very wide margin on March 28th, 2015 as he has positively redefined what political office is all about.

Eze Chukwuemeka Eze is a Media Consultant based in Port Harcourt