TheCable

The Rivers state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says Magnus Abe, a former senator who hails from the state, refused to attend the house of representatives public hearing on the murder of some Ogoni people, because he is guilty.

In a statement signed by Jerry Needam, spokesman of the PDP in Rivers, the party accused the lawmaker of instigating soldiers to take the lives of his people.

The statement said Abe would rather advance his political interests than the interests of the Ogoni people who have died due to extra-judicial killing.

“The Rivers state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hereby in very strong terms condemn the refusal of Mr. Magnus Abe and Mr. Barry Mpigito to attend the house of representatives public hearing on the action of the soldiers,” the statement read.

“This apparently means that he has accepted responsibility for the army invasion of Ogoni communities, which led to the death of innocent Ogoni sons and daughters, including pregnant women and some non-indigenes doing business in Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoni.

“They may have been overwhelmed by the volume of incriminating evidence against them, as may be presented at the house of representatives public hearing.”

The party said when it initially blamed the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker, many found it difficult to believe, but that the evidence it presented before the low chamber led to the public hearing.

“The PDP is therefore vindicated in its position that Magnus Abe and Barry Mpigi were responsible for instigating the soldiers to kill their fellow Ogoni people just to advance their political interests,” the statement read.

“When the carnage and pogrom committed by the Nigerian Army at the instance of certain Ogoni opposition politicians against the Ogoni communities particularly the Yeghe people in the wake of the recent inconclusive re-run elections in Rivers state was made public, not many believed it.

“It only took a few video clips of the heinous actions of the so called soldiers of the Nigerian Army against innocent children and women, including pregnant women murdered with careless abandon as though they were fighting in a battle field that the conscience of most Nigerians was pricked.”

The PDP said the video clip “compelled the house of representatives to consider organizing a public hearing on the issue… and invited to the public hearing are major characters in the incident”.

The PDP said rather than appreciate the hearing, Abe was busy pursuing his political ambitions.

“Rather than receive and embrace such invitation with honour and joy that at last the evil against his own kin and kith (the Ogoni people)that  he is opting to represent in the national assembly at any cost, is now on the front burner of public discourse, Mr. Magnus Abe is angry, agitated and offended, and is threatening fire and brimstone,” the statement read.