Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State has said the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Tonye Cole, is not fit to govern the state.
The party’s Campaign Council also said Tonye Cole is a political neophyte and lacks the requisite public service experience and exposure to govern a multi-ethnic and complex state like Rivers.
The PDP in a press statement issued today in Port Harcourt by the Director of Information and communications, Emma Okah, said only enemies of the State will prescribe a pupil to a teacher in a contest that requires tact, maturity and expertise to excel.
“Ordinarily, the PDP would not have bothered to campaign in Rivers State if Arch Cole is the APC candidate but the joy of a free and fair contest is the lesson the loser learns. It teaches him that a child cannot be older than his father” Okah said noting that Arch should have started campaigning since 2011 if he truly means to battle a political collosus like Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
Okah stressed that “those who love Rivers State can never prefer an unrepentant Lagosian who does not know the cultural and political terrain of his ethnic nationality let alone the state to aspire to govern Rivers State.
“Suggesting that Arch Cole should govern Rivers State at this time is to set the state ten years behind as he would spend so much time learning the ropes, names of the various towns and communities that make up his Kingdom, learn to speak his native language, names of the various LGAs and headquarters, names of key members of his party, names of VIPs in the state etc” the statement added.
He maintained that the people of Rivers State have learnt their lessons and would not allow a stooge who cannot be his man to preside over the affairs of the State.
“Rivers people do not want selfish and greedy merchants who would buy off valued state assets at cheap prices but will vote for a man they know and have been seeing.
” The man who has been council chairman, State Campaign Coordinator, Super Minister, a Bencher and sitting Governor. Governor Wike made promises to develop the state during the 2015 campaigns and three years down the road, he has fulfilled his promises, wining multiple awards and even doing more for Rivers people”
