The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is “most disappointed and shocked over the unpatriotic and condemnable position of Mr. Magnus Abe on the anticipated implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report Recommendations on the cleanup of Ogoniland.”

Rivers PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah, said in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Jerry Needam, JP: “PDP views Abe’s position in which he dissociated himself from the 30 days ultimatum given to the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Oil Multinationals by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) to commence the implementation of the UNEP report in Ogoni as antagonistic, betrayal and a clear demonstration of his hate and denial of his Ogoni people and by extension the suffering peoples and communities of the devastated Niger Delta region.

“For us, this is not a position someone like Abe, who ought to have supported the genuine demands of his people; identify with their cause for justice; and help in ventilating the grievances, plights and environmental devastation of his people and area, at every forum, including the federal level and before the international communities, for redress.

“Unfortunately, we see Abe not only making surreptitious efforts in thwarting the MOSOP cause, but unequivocally and publicly criticising and denying his people the possibilities of development and safe environment.”

Continuing, Bro Obuah said: “Although Magnus Abe’s antecedents on the issue of Ogoni struggle for justice have not really been contradicted by his recent statement against MOSOP position, but our concern is the fact that we expected some significant positive shift in his known anti-MOSOP attitude and general insensitivity towards the struggle and other Ogoni development affairs but nothing seems to have changed. He remains the Magnus Abe he has always being.

“One would have believed that as an Ogoniman, who he claims to be, the former Senator ought to have shown some semblance of patriotism, particularly on this very important issue of Ogoni clean up.

“What Magnus Abe has done therefore confirmed his true position as always an enemy of his people and someone that should not be entrusted with any further leadership or representative position at any level in government.

“While we commend the Ogoni people and the leadership of MOSOP on their united and consistent stand on the cleanup of their heavily polluted area, according to the UNEP Report, we urge them to reject and resist any move by the self-seeking politician (Abe) and his co-travelers of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as their main aim is to hand over Ogoni again to the slave masters, who do not wish the Ogoni people safe environment and better representation in government at all levels.

“One way we think the people of Ogoni can forestall the retrogressive ambition of chameleonic politicians like Abe is to ensure they are not elected into any arm of government. Even though we expect him (Abe) to apologise to the peoples of Ogoni and the entire Niger Delta, and denounce his opposition to the views of his people, this development should be an eye-opener.”

•Photo shows Senator Magnus Abe.

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