A former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, has warned that the state’s prolonged political feud has effectively turned back the clock on development by roughly 20 years.
Call for Cross‑Party Unity
Cole said the continuous dispute has deepened divisions among residents and stressed that rebuilding Rivers must involve competent individuals from every political party, not just one faction.
“I have reached out across the board to different people, telling them that we have fought a fight that has left Rivers State further back 20 years than we have ever been in our entire history,” he remarked.
He added that the time has come for all stakeholders to unite and forge a new master plan for the state’s advancement.
Prioritising State Interests Over Party Loyalty
The APC chieftain insisted that the interests of Rivers State must outweigh political differences, urging leaders from the PDP, APC, ADC, NDC and other groups to work together.
“Because we have tried division and fighting, and that has failed. So, how do we move the state forward? That is the question we now face,” Cole said.
Efforts to Reconcile Aggrieved Parties
Cole disclosed that he is already engaging aggrieved parties across the political spectrum, seeking a shared commitment to move Rivers forward.
He warned that failure to reconcile could plunge the state into another damaging round of conflict, halting any prospects of progress.
The only path forward, according to Cole, is to bring the best minds from all camps together, unite them, and deliver a new Rivers State a new development trajectory.
