Former Senator Magnus Abe has expressed deep gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following his appointment as Chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
In a personal statement on Tuesday, Abe described the appointment as a reflection of President Tinubu’s leadership style, anchored on loyalty, competence and a commitment to doing things differently for the benefit of Nigeria.
“A father’s love, though unseen, cannot be measured. It is always felt by his children and does not fade,” Abe said.
He recalled a past encounter on Super 93.3FM in Port Harcourt, where a caller once accused him of supporting Tinubu as though the President were his father, despite receiving no personal reward.
Abe said his response at the time was that his support for Tinubu was never based on expectations of reward, but on conviction.
“My belief was that President Tinubu would do things differently from every other leader, that Nigeria would be better, and that the numbers would show it. Today, the President is doing things differently, and the numbers are beginning to show that Nigeria is on the right course,” he stated.
According to Abe, his appointment to head the NUPRC represents not just a personal opportunity to contribute to national development, but further proof of the President’s leadership qualities.
“With this appointment, the President has demonstrated once again why thousands of people like me have followed him over the years, and why millions more are now following,” he said.
Abe dismissed suggestions that Nigeria was drifting towards a one-party state, arguing instead that Nigerians have found a leader they can trust.
“Nigeria is not becoming a one-party state. Rather, in Tinubu, Nigerians have found a leader that all Nigerians can trust,” he said.
He described Tinubu as “a father who rewards genuine loyalty and promotes competence,” adding, “I will never stop following Tinubu.”
The former lawmaker also paid tribute to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, whom he described as the “001 of the Tinubu political family in Rivers State.”
Abe credited Wike with delivering Rivers State to Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in what he described as the most difficult election in Nigeria’s political history.
“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,” he said.
He added that Wike had transformed the political structure in the state into what he called a “unique rainbow coalition” known as the Renewed Hope Family.
Abe thanked God for life and good health, noting that only divine grace makes service and competition possible.
He also urged Nigerians to remain steadfast, ignore critics, pay their taxes and support the ongoing reform agenda. “Better days are coming for our country,” Abe said.