ABE'S LATEST MOVE: LAST KICK OF A DYING HORSE”…. Oge Okparanta

Publicity Secretary of APC Students' League, Mr. Oge Okparanta has described as most unfortunate, alleged plots by a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Senator Magnus Abe to sabotage the peace efforts being put in place by the Rivers State  chapter of the party.

According to Okparanta, in a statement issued recently in Port-Harcourt, “the latest plot by Senator Magnus Abe and his cohorts to sabotage the efforts to restore peace to the Rivers Chapter of All Progressives Congress”.

Regarded as the new face of Rivers State youths, Okparanta said: "One would have elected to be reluctant on the recent move by Sen. Magnus Abe to ignite another round of legal fireworks to halt the already scheduled congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, but the need to relieve some minds that may have caught cold from the news of the ‘Stay of Execution Order’, necessitated this piece".

“It is trite to mention that seeking redress in court on whatever civil matter for the enforcement of rights is absolutely within the province of every individual in line with our civil jurisprudence. This explains that there is no big deal about the court order obtained by Abe and his cohorts as such could have been gotten by any member of the party regardless of his standing in society”.

Okparanta disclosed that, “the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  is the organ duly saddled with the responsibility of addressing internal wrangling similar to what we have within the party in Rivers State; and in line with its functions, NWC initiated moves to settle the internal crisis rocking the party in the state by constituting a Caretaker Committee to temporarily steer the affairs of the party and scheduling fresh congresses to allow everyone (including Abe) a level playing field in the contest”.

“One would have therefore loved to see a situation where ceasefire and renunciation of his plan to frustrate Rivers APC precedes any other options owing to the fact that the Congresses will afford him and his followers the opportunity to freely participate in the process which he claimed to have been denied him and his group previously and which led to the legal tussle that culminated in the non-inclusion of the party on the ballots during the last general elections”, he stated.

“However, Sen. Abe still holds that he was not consulted by NWC before the constitution of a Caretaker Committee and scheduling of congresses”.

“Abe's position is simply not feasible because the task of consulting millions of APC members in Rivers State by NWC before reaching a decision to rebuild the party, would be onerous” he opined.

“This is owing to the fact that by consulting Sen. Abe (as a member of the APC) the NWC will have to consult every other party members including the poor widows, men and youth at the very unit levels across the 319 wards in Rivers State because all members of the APC regardless of status has equal rights and privileges and can approach the court (just like Abe) to enforce such rights”.

“So on what premise is Sen. Abe demanding special consultation? He queried.

“Although Abe's stand merely reveals his firm desperation towards wrecking the ship of the Rives APC but such move can at best be described as the last kick of a dying horse”.

“One thing is sure: whatever be the decision of the court, APC will emerge stronger and such decision will only determine whether or not Sen. Abe will remain a member of the APC family” the youth leader stressed.

In the statement, Okparanta urged party faithful to remain clam and focused as the party sails through the legal works.

“While we urge party faithful to remain calm and focused as we sail through the waters of legal mechanics and acrobatics, we remain confident that together, we shall land safely on Canaan side”.