Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, has received three young men who trekked from Port Harcourt to Bera, Gokana Local Government Area, to congratulate him on his election victory.

The three persons are; Nuhu Taminu, aged 24 years, from Nasarawa State, Monday Joseph, aged 20 years, from Nasarawa State, and Blessing Peter, aged 23 years, from Abia State.

The trio who embarked on the journey on Wednesday December 14, 2016, arrived Bera, Gokana LGA on Thursday, December 15, 2016 but unfortunately could not meet with the then Senator-elect.

Speaking while receiving the three young men at his residence in Port Harcourt, Senator Abe said it was unfortunate that he could not meet them when they arrived Bera, Gokana, his home town, because of his trip to Abuja for his swearing-in.

He said on arrival he was informed of the journey of the young men, which he was told that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs wanted to abort by intimidating, molesting and harassing them.

Said Senator Abe: “I was actually in Abuja when I heard that they had embarked on a walk from Port Harcourt to my village to come and congratulate me. I didn’t have the opportunity to receive them then. I heard they were threatened by some PDP thugs along the way but they persisted and insisted that they must keep to their promise. That is why I decided to send for them to acknowledge them publicly and to say that Nigeria remains a free country and people in this country are free to do what their minds tell them; they are free to walk to any part of Nigeria that they want to walk to in order to express themselves.”

Senator Abe commended them for their courage, stating that their resistance is a reflection that freedom, which is a tenet of democracy is a right of citizens for which the Nigerian constitution guaranteed.

Furthermore, he congratulated them for their discipline and commitment to undertake the journey, pointing out that what they had displayed was a statement that Nigeria is a democracy where citizens have a right to express their feelings unmolested in accordance with the law.

“You are a symbol of the Nigeria that we want to build; a country that cuts across ethnic and religious lines; a country where people can express themselves freely without fear. You are also the symbol of courage that we want to see in the young people of this country.”

The former Secretary to Rivers State Government said his problem with PDP and Gov. Nyesom Wike is that they do not want the people to exercise their freedom in the choice of their candidate rather they prefer to intimidate the people and select winners.

Senator Abe said his election has showed that the will of the people will triumph if only the Nigerian state will protect and guarantee their right of freedom against the enemies of democracy.

“Nigeria is a democracy and the main ingredient of democracy is freedom. People must be free to do what they want to do; people cannot be threatened over what they believe; people cannot be killed over which political party they choose to associate with. All these kind of things are not part of what democracy should be. In Rivers State, we have witnessed a lot of that and I think it is time for us to put an end to those kind of things.”

In another development, Senator Abe received the youths of Adantulo Estate, who visited to congratulate him on his being elected as the Senator representing Rivers South East.

Speaking on behalf of the youths who are the neighbours of the distinguished Senator, Mr. Williams Hope represented by Mr. Felix Anthony, said they decided to visit and congratulate him because of his kind of person; a man of simplicity and humility, affording youths the opportunity to interact and share ideas on the development of the state and Nigeria.

He said with the election of such a personality that the youths of Rivers South East have future.

Responding, Senator Abe thanked them for recognising his humble virtue and assured them that he would always consider youths in his scheme of developmental strides.

“I am happy to be with you people. I have lived here for several years and whatever is happening in this estate particularly with the younger ones and they bring it to my attention, I always try to associate with them because I believe that is one of the ways we can contribute to making the society the way we want it to be by that level of interaction and communication. I thank you for recognising that bit.”

•Senator Abe.

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