Tonye Cole Urges Governor Fubara to End Political Battles and Complete Tenure
Former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, has described the emergence of Governor Siminalayi Fubara as contentious from the outset. He noted that the ensuing political crisis, particularly the face‑off with predecessor and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, created serious governance challenges for the state.
Background of the Political Crisis
Cole said he believed Fubara would have consulted his close allies before deciding on the political direction he has now taken. “My assumption is that the governor would have gone with his own close allies, discussed with them, and said that this is the best way, that he has to move forward for the next six months or thereabouts of his administration,” Cole remarked. He admitted he was not part of those discussions and could not say exactly what informed the governor’s decision.
According to Cole, having chosen to return to office and complete his tenure, Fubara must now prioritise governance and avoid returning to political battles. “But the battle that was fought? Now, what do you do? Do you walk away? If he was going to walk away then, he should not have come back as governor,” he said. “But having taken the responsibility to come and finish his term, then he has to finish it in the way that allows him to govern. He can’t go back into fighting.”
Call for a New Governance Direction
Cole argued that the prolonged disagreement between the governor and his predecessor had negatively affected Rivers State, noting that the method by which Fubara came into power was contentious and the continual contention caused problems for the populace. He added that the political crisis was not what the people wanted; they expected better governance and a different approach to leadership.
Nevertheless, the APC chieftain expressed hope that the current situation presents an opportunity for Rivers State to establish a new system of governance. He called on residents to demand a different political process and elect leaders capable of delivering good governance. “Now we have an opportunity, and I come back to this – we have an opportunity in Rivers State, and I’m praying this time around that it will work,” Cole said, urging the people to set a different type of governance and electoral process.
