Former senator representing Rivers South-East, Magnus Abe, has said no one can genuinely claim loyalty to President Bola Tinubu while engaging in a political fight against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Abe made the remark while thanking President Tinubu for his appointment as Chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, a statement widely interpreted as a direct message to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, amid the ongoing political rift with Wike.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday, Abe described Tinubu as a leader who rewards loyalty and promotes competence, declaring his unwavering allegiance to the President, while also acknowledging Wike for his support.
In a pointed reference to the Rivers political crisis, Abe praised Wike’s role in delivering electoral support for Tinubu and warned against ingratitude towards the FCT minister.
“Let me also thank the ‘001 of the Tinubu political family in Rivers State’, the FCT Minister, the man who did what no other politician has ever been able to achieve: delivered Rivers State to Tinubu and the APC in the most difficult election in the history of Nigerian politics.
“No one can claim to love Mr President and be ungrateful to our ‘Mr Project’, his support at a critical point meant a lot to our success as a family and continues to be pivotal to the success of the Tinubu family in Rivers State which has formed into a unique rainbow coalition called the Renewed Hope Family.”
Abe further described the President as “a father that rewards genuine loyalty and promotes competence,” adding, “I will never stop following you.”
Abe said his appointment offered him “a great and unique opportunity to contribute to the transformation of our country especially in the key economic sector.”
He said, “My appointment as Chairman of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission by the President has not only given me a great and unique opportunity to contribute to the transformation of our country, especially in the key economic sector, but has demonstrated once again the President’s unique qualities that make him a master of the game.
This is the reason thousands of people like me, have followed him (Tinubu) over the years and millions more are following. Nigeria is not becoming a one-party state, rather, in Tinubu, Nigerians have simply found a leader that all Nigerians can trust.”
Abe also expressed personal gratitude to Wike, whom he referred to as “our Nyerishi.”
“To my friend and brother, our Nyerishi (referring to the FCT Minister), thank you. My family and I owe you what words cannot express. Thank you sir,” he said.
He concluded by thanking God for the opportunity and urging Nigerians to support the President’s reform agenda.
“To all my friends and well-wishers across the land, just praise God, ignore the naysayers, pay your tax, and support the reform agenda. Better days are coming for our country. Today, the President is doing things differently, and the numbers are beginning to show that Nigeria is on the right course,” Abe added.
Wike and Abe have maintained a long-standing but complex political relationship in Rivers State, marked by periods of alliance and rivalry.
Abe, a former ally of ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi, fell out with Amaechi during internal APC crises and later aligned with Wike at critical moments, particularly during the 2023 general elections.
Although Abe did not formally contest under the Peoples Democratic Party, he publicly backed Wike’s political structure and joined the minister’s effort to mobilise support for President Tinubu in Rivers State, a move that proved decisive in delivering the state to the APC despite Wike’s PDP roots.
Since Tinubu’s victory, Abe has increasingly positioned himself within Wike’s political camp, often defending the FCT minister and aligning with his “Renewed Hope” coalition in Rivers, even as the relationship between Wike and Governor Fubara deteriorated.
