Magnus Abe Brims with Satisfaction After New Appointment      

After years of being a political question mark, Senator Magnus Abe now has a definitive answer: a new title.

Last week, President Bola Tinubu nominated Abe as Chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). For Abe, a former senator from Rivers State, this appointment was more along the lines of a vindication than just a job.

His statement of thanks was a masterclass in political valence, weaving loyalty, faith, and strategy. He directly addressed past whispers that Tinubu had forgotten him, calling such talk the chatter of “naysayers.” But, to be fair, Abe’s political journey has been tortuous.

The man left the APC in 2022 to pursue a governorship bid on another party’s ticket. This move fostered a perception of abandonment on both sides. Thus, his return to the fold was a quiet but necessary recalibration.

The NUPRC appointment serves a dual purpose: first, it rewards Abe’s long-professed loyalty; second, it places a savvy operator at the helm of a critical agency. Abe called it a “unique opportunity to contribute,” framing it as a juncture for both his career and national policy.

He even had fulsome praises for Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister, calling him the “001” of Tinubu’s family in Rivers State. This encomium acknowledges Wike’s pivotal role in delivering the state during the 2023 elections, a feat of political engineering.

The moment is rich with irony. Once seen as potentially sidelined, Abe now holds a key regulatory role in Nigeria’s most vital economic sector. His satisfaction is palpable, stemming from a restored sense of place within the power structure. For which reason, he had the mind to urge supporters to “pay your tax, and support the reform agenda.” It was a closing note that blended personal triumph with a call for civic duty, a classic political coda.

In the end, Abe’s story is a Washington tale told in Port Harcourt accents. It proves that in Nigerian politics, the greatest reward for a loyalist can sometimes be a new position along with the quiet silencing of all those who said it would never come.