Tonye Cole Warns Rivers State Set Back 20 Years by Political Feud

Former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Tonye Cole has warned that the prolonged political feud in Rivers State has pushed the state backwards by roughly two decades.

Speaking on the state of affairs, Cole said the dispute has deepened divisions and hindered development, urging stakeholders from all political camps to unite for a common rebuilding agenda.

A Call for Cross‑Party Collaboration

Cole revealed that he has already begun reaching out to political actors and other stakeholders across different parties, emphasizing that the rebuilding process must involve competent individuals regardless of party affiliation.

“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,” he stated.

He added that the time has come for all citizens to come together to build a new Rivers State, putting the state’s interests above political differences.

Learning from Past Mistakes

Cole argued that past strategies of division and confrontation have failed to produce meaningful development, noting that the state must now seek the best ideas from every quarter.

“We have tried the division, we have tried the fighting, and that has failed. So, how do we move the state forward? And that’s where we are,” he said.

The former governorship candidate stressed that efforts are underway to bring aggrieved parties together and secure a shared commitment to the state’s progress.

“So we are reaching out to all aggrieved parties, and we are bringing everybody together to say, you know what? Can we agree that we now need to move Rivers State forward?” he added.

Warning Against Further Conflict

Cole warned that failure to reconcile the differing political camps could plunge Rivers State into another damaging round of conflict, stressing that the only way forward is to harness the best from all sides.

“That is how we build this new state. If not, we’re going into another very bitter division, which will not progress us,” he concluded.