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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State, Magnus Abe, has assured of providing a permanent solution to the recurring flood issues in the Orashi region of the state.
He gave the assurance at the flag-off and dedication service of the SDP campaign for the 2023 elections in Rivers State, held at St Paul’s Cathedral, Port Harcourt.
Abe also commiserated with the flood victims in Abua/Odual, Ahoada West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas in the Orashi region, who had been driven from their houses by flooding.
He expressed: “We must find a permanent solution to flood in Rivers States. We cannot continue to do the same and expect a different result. Every human challenge has a permanent solution.
“We cannot keep giving people mattresses and rice every year to flood victims. We cannot continue to do the same thing every time and expect a different result.
“We will not play politics with everything. There are things that are beyond politics and so, we commend the Rivers State government for the prompt response to the issue.”
Concerning the use of public schools for political campaigns, Abe said the SDP would not fight anybody on the issue, but will rather build a united and prosperous Rivers State, where everyone will have the opportunity to prosper.
He stated: “We will revamp public transportation in Rivers State. We will serve those who elected us before ourselves. We will acquire air-conditioned buses and subsidize them to transporters for the good of Rivers people.
“We must run a government with targets so that we will know if we are moving forward or backwards. Whether in the power sector or education, our campaign will be issue-based; it will be target based.”
He said the thanksgiving was imperative in order to dedicate his campaign to God, saying that despite all odds, he was on the ballot paper and would be contesting in 2023 and will win.
Abe promised: “I assure that after the election in March before we enter the Brick House, we will still come here to thank God. We will dedicate our entrance to God, the same way we are dedicating the campaign to God.
“We will win by the grace of the Almighty God. A lot of you know the efforts that were made to frustrate us. We have the ticket, we are on the ballot, we will contest and we will win. It was not easy; but, we thank God that we are on the ballot. We say may all glory be unto God.
“Secondly, we have dedicated our campaign and journey to God and we are moving forward with confidence that God is with us.”
Earlier, the Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta North, Rt Rev Wisdom Ihunwo, commended the SDP candidate for beginning his political campaign with thanksgiving to God.
“We commend the senator as he has come to offer thanks before his campaign. As you go, God will be with you. There shall be no accident, the peace of God shall be with you.”
The thanksgiving service also had prayers for the governorship candidate, his family and entourage, Rivers State and Nigeria and for a peaceful election in 2023.
