Rivers Has Lost Two Decades Of Progress” – Tonye Cole Breaks Silence

According to Ireporter Online, Cole made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, where he called for a collective effort involving political leaders and stakeholders from different camps to rebuild the state.

The APC chieftain said the continuous disagreements among political actors had created deep divisions and slowed down development, stressing that Rivers State must now focus on reconciliation and progress beyond party interests.

Cole disclosed that he had started engaging stakeholders across various political divides in an effort to address grievances and encourage unity among leaders.

He said the state had reached a point where all parties must come together and develop a common vision for the future.

“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. This is one of the times when we must all come together to build a new Rivers State,” Cole said.

He argued that the process of rebuilding Rivers should not be limited to members of one political party, but should involve capable individuals from across the political spectrum.

According to him, the state should prioritise competence and experience rather than political affiliations, noting that the future of Rivers is more important than party differences.

“We don’t care whether you are PDP, APC, ADC or any other party. What matters now is bringing together the best people from everywhere to create a master plan that will move Rivers State forward,” he stated.

Cole maintained that previous attempts based on political rivalry and division had not produced the desired results, adding that a new approach focused on cooperation was needed.

He revealed that discussions were ongoing with aggrieved stakeholders to encourage reconciliation and create a shared commitment towards rebuilding the state.

The former governorship candidate warned that failure to resolve existing disagreements could lead to another phase of political tension that may further affect development.

Cole stressed that only unity, collaboration and the involvement of capable leaders from different backgrounds could help Rivers State overcome its challenges and achieve sustainable growth.