Former senator Magnus Abe has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, following his appointment as Chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

President Tinubu had on Monday forwarded Abe’s name, alongside 20 others, to the Senate for confirmation as nominees for the boards of the NUPRC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Abe said his long-standing support for the President was rooted in conviction and belief in Tinubu’s leadership capacity, rather than the expectation of personal reward.

“My love and support for President Tinubu has always been based on my conviction that he would lead differently and put Nigeria on the path of measurable progress,” Abe said.

He noted that recent economic and governance indicators suggest that the administration’s policies are beginning to yield positive results.

“Today, the President is doing things differently, and the numbers are beginning to show that Nigeria is on the right course,” he added.

Abe described his appointment as an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to national development, particularly in the strategic oil and gas sector.

“With this appointment, the President has given me a rare opportunity to contribute to the transformation of our country in a critical sector, while once again demonstrating the qualities that define his leadership,” he said.

He also praised Tinubu’s ability to build trust across political divides, stressing that Nigeria is not drifting toward a one-party system.

“Rather than becoming a one-party state, Nigerians have found in President Tinubu a leader they can trust across party lines,” Abe stated.

The former lawmaker pledged unwavering loyalty to the President, describing him as a leader who rewards loyalty and promotes competence.

Abe further thanked Wike for his role in the 2023 general elections, describing the FCT minister as instrumental to the President’s success in Rivers State.

“No one can claim to love the President and be ungrateful to our ‘Mr Project’. His support at a critical time was invaluable and remains pivotal to the success of the Tinubu political family in Rivers State,” he said.

He added that Wike’s efforts helped strengthen the ‘Renewed Hope’ political structure in the state.

Abe concluded by thanking God for the opportunity to serve and urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government’s reform agenda.

“I urge Nigerians to ignore the naysayers, pay their taxes, and support the reform agenda. Better days are ahead for our country,” he said.