Tonye Cole Warns Rivers State Has Been Set Back 20 Years by Political Feud
A former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, has said the ongoing political feud in the state has pushed Rivers backwards by about two decades.
Cole explained that the prolonged dispute has deepened divisions and urged a broad‑based effort to rebuild Rivers State beyond party affiliations.
Call for Cross‑Party Unity
The APC chieftain said he has begun reaching out to political actors and stakeholders across different camps to resolve grievances and promote unity.
“I am one of those that have reached out across the board to different people, calling them and saying to them that, look, we have fought a fight that has left Rivers State further back 20 years than we have ever been in our entire history as a state.”
Tonye Cole
Rebuilding Beyond Party Lines
Cole maintained that the rebuilding process must involve competent people from all political parties rather than being controlled by a single group, stressing that the state’s interests should outweigh political differences.
He added, “We have to do that across party lines. We don’t care whether you are PDP, APC, ADC, or NDC. What we care about now is that Rivers State seeks the best from everywhere, brings them together, and forges a master plan that allows us to move forward.”
Warning Against Further Division
Cole argued that political division and confrontation have failed to produce meaningful development in the state, noting that the state has tried division and fighting, and both have failed.
He warned that failure to reconcile the different political camps could plunge Rivers into another damaging round of conflict, stating, “The only way to do that is to bring the best from all the camps and let us put ourselves together so that we can deliver a new Rivers State. If not, we’re going into another very bitter division, which will not progress us.”
The former governorship candidate said efforts are underway to bring aggrieved parties together and secure a common commitment to the state’s progress, urging all sides to agree on moving Rivers State forward.
