An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has restated his unflinching commitment to promoting merit-based human capital development over mediocrity in ensuring the sustainable development of Ogoni land in Rivers State.
Senator Abe stated this while receiving a delegation of the leadership of the Abuja branch of Ogoni Beyond Oil and Politics (OBOP), an advocacy group, who paid him a courtesy visit at his Abuja residence, to express their heartfelt appreciation for his remarkable contributions to human capital development in Ogoniland and beyond.
The former lawmaker applauded the group for the initiative, advocacy and solidarity, and reaffirmed his commitment to merit based human capital development and services to humanity without expectation of reward from man but ultimately from God who rewards every good work.
He emphasised the importance of selfless acts in building a better Ogoniland, Rivers State, and Nigeria, stating that the nation of our dreams can only be created through collective efforts that prioritizes excellence in all facets of individuals life’s endeavours.
Abe underscored the significance of excellence in the overall development of a people by drawing inferences from the legacies of great leaders like Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, whose patriotism, penchant for excellence and human capital development laid the foundation for the current socio-cultural, economic, political and intellectual advancement that can be seen today in the South-West and renowned status of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in the South-Eastern part of the country.
He called on fellow leaders of today in Ogoniland to build on the legacies of great Ogoni patroits like Late Chief Edward Kobani, A.T. Badey, and Ken Saro-Wiwa, amongst others, to promote merit, capacity building, hard work and quest for excellence in order to facilitate sustainable development and safeguard the future of the Ogoni people.
Abe expressed his strong belief in the possibility of building a society where opportunities for growth and advancement in the standard of living are not restricted to the privileged few but extended to those who may not be so privileged and highly connected yet hard working and possess a verifiable record of excellence in their endeavours.
“Let us build an Ogoni where the child of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody….a society where the child of nobody can become somebody based on hard work and excellence, not based on family relations or privileged connection,” Abe said.
The Global Convener of the initiative, His Royal Highness, Mene Kadilo Kabari, who is the Paramount/Natural Ruler of Barako Ancient Community and Member, Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt, extolled Senator Abe’s merit-based legacies with support signatures in the lives of countless young persons including members of the delegation, all of whom highly esteems him as leader, mentor and benefactor.
The traditional leader stated that Abe’s name has already been written in gold and in the annals of history as one who promotes merit over mediocrity, capacity over sycophancy, and selflessness over bigotry
Mene Kabari specifically thanked the Senator for his role in the current status of Engr. Ziganu Laka of the NNPC, and encouraged him to continue his good works in the lives of young people beyond politics.
Speaking individually, Mr Ayiabari Kigbara, a staff of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Engr. Ziganu Laka, a staff of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and Dr Rogers Kanee, a staff of the Clinton Foundation/Health Access Initiative, were thankful to the Senator for various interventions in their lives and many other young persons in Ogoni and across the nation.
Solidarity remarks were also made by Mr Monday Ubulom, a staff of NNPC, Mr Ndume Green, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Capital/Ogoni TV, and Mr Precious Monmon, former president of the National Union of Rivers State Students.
