A former federal lawmaker in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, has explained why the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, can not be recognized as a leader in the state.
The former governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 elections said being the state leader went a great deal beyond governing the state.
Abe stated this while speaking in an interview on TVC’s Politics Night.
He said, “Being a governor has made him the leader of the government of Rivers State. But when you say political leader, that is something that you have to work to earn.
“To say Fubara is the political leader of Rivers State is a much broader context of leadership, and it takes time to build that kind of confidence, followership, support, and trust.
“Leadership is all about trust, and sometimes, navigating this difficult water helps bring you out as a leader when you begin to trust yourself and can rely on the direction you provide.”
The former lawmaker said it is Fubara”s responsibility to work towards that leadership.
Abe said, “But he is the governor of Rivers State, and it is his responsibility to work towards that leadership. But to say he is the political leader of Rivers will put leadership into a broad context.
“And it takes time to get there. It takes bringing people together. You earn trust. As a governor, you have the opportunity to get there, but I don’t think it is conferred,” he said.
Making reference to Aminu Kano’s era, Abe said Aminu Kano was the political leader of Kano despite not being a governor at the time.
Abe also spoke on the feud between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Recall that Abe earlier said he had ended the protracted political feud between him and Wike.
The former lawmaker said he had mended fences with the FCT minister after the 2023 elections.