Tonye Cole Warns Rivers State Set Back 20 Years by Political Feud
Tonye Cole, a former All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Rivers State, said the ongoing political feud has pushed the state about twenty years behind its potential.
He noted that the prolonged dispute has deepened divisions and urged a broad‑based effort to rebuild Rivers State beyond party lines.
Cole revealed that he has been reaching out to political actors and stakeholders from various camps to address grievances and foster unity.
He said, “I am one of those who have reached out across the board, telling people that we have fought a fight that has left Rivers State twenty years behind where we have ever been in our history. Now is the time for all of us to come together and build a new Rivers State.”
He stressed that rebuilding must involve competent individuals from all parties, not be dominated by a single group, and that the state’s interests should outweigh political differences.
Cole added, “We must work across party lines — whether you are PDP, APC, ADC, or NDC. What matters now is that Rivers State seeks the best talent from everywhere, unites them, and creates a master plan to move forward.”
He argued that political division and confrontation have failed to deliver meaningful development, noting that the state has tried fighting and it has not worked.
Cole said efforts are underway to bring aggrieved parties together and secure a shared commitment to the state’s progress.
He warned, “We are reaching out to all aggrieved parties and asking: can we agree that we now need to move Rivers State forward?”
He cautioned that failure to reconcile the different camps could plunge Rivers State into another damaging cycle of conflict.
Cole concluded, “The only way forward is to bring the best from every camp, unite our efforts, and deliver a new Rivers State. Otherwise, we risk another bitter division that will halt progress.”
