Recently the media has
been awash with articles from some prominent Rivers sons espousing the
candidature of Mr. Tonye Cole as the best candidate to unseat the incumbent
governor of Rivers state Mr. Nyesom Wike. The articles which hinge the need for
the people of the state to support Mr. Cole on his endorsement by the former
Governor of the state and leader of the party in the state attempts to sell the
candidate as the savior who will redeem the state and make it an Eldorado among
comity of states in the country based on his success as a businessman.
Considering the business
background of Mr. Cole, it will be out of place to say that his proponents are
hired singers. They may have had the opportunity of knowing him and
understanding the kind of personality he is to make such lofty comments about
him.
Rivers state and indeed
Nigeria needs such personalities in government that can help change the
direction of the country for the better through right approach to governance.
But sometimes it is important for us to realise that governance is different
from being a successful businessman as those promoting Mr. Cole may want us to believe.
Politics and governance entails a lot which relying on ones success in business
alone may end up becoming a big disappointment. The fact that he is a successful
businessman does not mean that others in the race have not attained success in
their various endeavours.
The major problem
facing the state today is insecurity and job creation and it is important that
we understand that we need a candidate that will be in tune with the security
situation in the state and who has the experience to ensure that the situation
is positively tackled. This is what my dear brother Tonye Cole lacks and
allowing him take the ticket will only show that the party is really not ready
to take over power from the PDP come 2019. The APC should look into its fold
without sentiments to bring the best candidate otherwise all the boasts about
dethroning Wike will amount to empty boasts.
As much as we need the
best material in the All Progressive Congress APC to wrest power from the PDP,
we cannot risk it for a political neophyte who will come up with policies that
may likely not be in tune with the wishes of the people of the state.
As a party man I wish
to state categorically that Tonye Cole is not the best candidate to fly the flag
of the party come 2019. Any attempt to foist him on the party will end up
creating the same scenario we witnessed in 2015 if not a worst case scenario.
He is not known to many party members neither is he a home grown politician
that has related with people across the state. Putting a stranger as the governorship
candidate under our party will be counterproductive so it is important that we
correct such when we still have the time.
There are better
candidates in the party who should be considered. It is for this reason that I
join members of the party that have insisted on the need to have direct
primaries in order to elect the most acceptable candidate for the party.
Through the adoption of a direct and transparent primary, the entire members of
the party will be rest assured that anybody who emerges will be acceptable to
the members and the people of the state. The fact that there are two factions
of the party is not the only reason for the direct primaries. Direct Primaries
will prevent the imposition of any candidate on the members and bring in
somebody that will be acceptable to the people of the state in general.
The most important
thing today is to unseat the non performing governor of the state. This victory
cannot and should not be sacrificed on the altar of ego or crass sentiment
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