Magnus Abe

Okafor Ofiebor

Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the legislative re-run election has dismissed the allegation by Governor Nyesom Wike he  embezzled N4 billion meant for the Kpopie-Bodo road project.

Senator Abe said “such allegation is laughable, very far from the truth and desecrates the office of Governor of Rivers State,” while reacting to it on Thursday.

“This shows the extent the Governor could go in stooping low and indulging in bare faced lies, if only he could stop Senator Abe from being elected into the Senate.

“It is pertinent to state that Senator Abe is not cut out for corruption and was not the contractor, so could not have embezzled the money. The facts about the road project are there at the Ministry of Works for anybody to verify.”

The reaction of Abe was contained in statement by Parry Saro Benson his media aide.

“Governor Wike should be reminded that contracts have terms and Ogoni people are wiser than any tricks he is trying to play. Let it be told to Rivers people and the Ogoni that no money was embezzled on the project rather the governor is owing the contractor to the tune of more than N400 million, which could have helped in completing the project.

“It is unfortunate to state that the Governor being petty and vindictive has refused to pay the contractor in order to get back at Senator Abe, former Governor Chibuike Amaechi and the Ogoni as well as cancel and re-award the contract to his cronies.

“Any responsible person occupying the respected office of the governor should in public interest complete previous projects started by his predecessors. This, former Governor Amaechi did by completing all projects started by Chief Celestine Omehia. Such as Mile one/ Town markets, Okrika Ring Road, Eliozu fly-over and many more.

“It is expedient to tell Governor Wike that if the idea of the allegation is to stop Senator Abe from being voted to the Senate, he has failed woefully as the Ogoni have taken the decision to vote for him.

Our people cannot be deceived by feckless claim of loving Ogoni people to the extent of forgetting his own Ikwerre people.

Senator Abe pointed out: “The question the Ogoni should ask is  why is Wike so engrossed about Abe’s election? He knows that voting Abe into the Senate would mean that the Ogoni from henceforth would not be looked down upon again in Rivers politics”.

Governor Wike had accused the Senator Abe, a former Secretary to the State Government an Ogoni from Gokana local Government area of state of embezzling N4 Billion meant for construction of the abandoned Kpopie-Bodo road when led supporters of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to campaign for candidates of the party in Ogoni yesterday.