Tonye Cole, the 2023 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, has expressed concerns about the declaration of a state of emergency in the state by President Bola Tinubu. Speaking on Channels Television, Cole called on the President to act like a true father of the nation and to be fair and balanced in resolving the ongoing political crisis in Rivers.
While acknowledging that President Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency was a tough one, Cole stressed that it was not sufficient to resolve the political turmoil in the state. He argued that a political solution must be found to address the crisis, emphasizing that “this war continues” until all political actors, including FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, are suspended.
Cole warned that the political actors on both sides of the crisis had not acted in the best interests of the people, and that without a political resolution, the situation would persist. He urged President Tinubu to step back and adopt a more balanced and comprehensive approach, warning that the political work behind the scenes still needed to be addressed to resolve the crisis.