- Tonye Cole urged President Tinubu to involve Patience Jonathan and other respected figures to mediate the political feud in Rivers State
- Cole emphasized the need for key stakeholders to prioritize Rivers State’s interests over personal agendas to resolve ongoing political conflicts
Tonye Cole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 Rivers State election, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to involve Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, in resolving the ongoing political feud between former Governor Nyesom Wike and current Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
During an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Cole emphasized that Tinubu should enlist respected figures like former governors Ada George and Peter Odilli and spiritual leader Pastor David Ibiyeomie to mediate in the crisis.
Cole said, “There are certain people that Mr President has to empower to go and speak on his behalf and call the warring parties because they have larger interests in the state. Just on the top of my head I can name four people who can mediate.
“I will first call an old politician who was the state governor like Ada George. I will call somebody who is considered to be a strong spiritual leader in the state David Ibiyeomie. I know they both respect him.
“I will call an elder statesman who has very little to do with politics. He is the right person. I will call Peterside. And probably because of all that happened in one way or the other in the whole Rivers State, whether negative or positive, I will also call Her Excellency Patience Jonathan.
“If these four people are mandated to sit the two warring factions, you may want to call Peter Odilli. Whatever the case, bring these and have them speak to the two warring factions because of the state’s future.
And I think the president needs to do something. He may feel that he needs to come in. Bring people who have interest for the larger purpose of the state.”