Magnus Abe Denies Ending Ogoni Governorship Ambition

Chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Senator Magnus Abe, has denied allegations that he has abandoned the struggle for the Ogoni ethnic nationality to produce the governor of Rivers State, insisting that his commitment to the aspiration remains unchanged.

Abe made the clarification at the weekend while speaking on a live radio programme monitored in Port Harcourt, where he addressed growing reactions to his perceived political stance on the issue.

He said contrary to claims in some quarters, he has not withdrawn from the long-standing agitation for Ogoni representation at the governorship level in Rivers State.

According to him, the aspiration remains valid, but must be pursued through strategic political alliances rather than confrontation or emotional agitation.

Abe argued that Nigeria’s political structure is driven largely by coalition-building and institutional backing, which he said determines electoral outcomes more than individual popularity or ethnic support.

“Before I take a decision, I think things over,” he said, adding that governorship elections in Nigeria since 1999 have largely been influenced by political structures and power blocs.

He stated that successful governorship candidates across the country were often backed either by sitting governments or strong federal political networks.

“If you look at everybody that has been elected a governor, almost all the people that have been elected as governors have been elected because they had state structures backing them,” Abe said.

He maintained that political reality has evolved to a point where state and federal alignments play decisive roles in determining electoral success.

Abe further argued that defections by politicians from opposition parties to ruling parties reflect an understanding of this political structure.

He said such moves are often motivated by the need to align with power centres to strengthen electoral chances.

According to him, Ogoni political actors must also adapt to this reality if they hope to achieve the long-held ambition of producing a governor.