Rivers APC crisis: Truth will triumph over lies, deceit ― Abe

SENATOR Magnus Abe has said he will emerge victorious in the ongoing crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that truth will ultimately triumph over lies and deceit, no matter how it is presented.

This was as he said he fought his battles within the party fold without arming youths or sponsoring any act of violence against anyone, even despite what he described as several acts of sponsored violence against him and his supporters.

He made this known while speaking at the presentation of an award of Excellence, Non-Violence, Human Capacity Development and Apostle of Internal Democracy in Nigeria to him by the All Indian Universities Alumni Association at the Indian High Commission, Lagos at an occasion held to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the late Indian leader, Mahatma Gandhi.

Abe, the immediate past representative of Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the Senate, in a statement issued by his media aide, Parry Saroh Benson, on Tuesday, likened Gandhi’s principle of non-violence to his experience, noting that he refused to resort to violence, even in the face of several provocations he went through in Rivers State.

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“We have clung to nothing but the truth and refused to employ violence through what has been the most turbulent period in the political history of Rivers State, a violent circle of elections and reruns, in spite of coordinated acts of violence and murder targeted at us and our supporters.

“Again in the internal crisis within the APC Rivers State, despite several acts of sponsored violence against us, we fought our battles without arming youths or sponsoring any act of violence against anyone, friend or foe,” he said.

Senator Abe described the occasion as a fitting tribute to the late environmentalist and human rights activist, Kenule Saro-Wiwa, who he said imbibed and practised Gandhi’s principle of non-violence as it coincided with the 24th anniversary of the death of the Ogoni leaders.

Abe said: “We were honoured by the All Indian Universities Alumni Association for our commitment to the principles of non-violence in politics. It was quite humbling to see that the world took notice of our determined commitment to non-violence.

“Gandhi got it right, Martin Luther King got it right, Ken Saro Wiwa got it right. The truth will always triumph over better-armed lies and deceit. We are getting it right. And we will win,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Abe has condoled the people of Rivers State over the death of Professor Tam David-West, a former Commissioner in the old Rivers State and later Minister of Petroleum and Energy.

Abe, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Parry Saroh Benson, described the death as a great loss to the people of Rivers State and the country, adding: “Professor Tam David-West was a man of integrity and decorum; one whose love for truth and justice as a leader deserves to be emulated.

“Indeed, we shall all miss him. His voice always loud in defence of truth and justice is now forever still. We pray that the good Lord will give his family the strength to bear the loss and grant him eternal rest.”