With the 2019 general elections weeks away and with negotiations on-going around the country, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, William Stuart Symington has expressed optimism that the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State will resolve their lingering court cases and be on the ballot for 2019 gubernatorial, national and state house of assemblies election.
The ambassador who was in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, paid a closed-door visit to the APC candidate for Rivers state, Pastor Tonye Cole, at his residence.
According to a press release by the Tonye Cole campaign team, the ambassador and the Guber candidate discussed amongst other things, the Rivers State elections as an opportunity for good men and women to render true and sincere service to its people, the high expectations of the entire international community in Rivers State to deliver credible elections and the need for peace to prevail not only in actions but also in words.
The meeting which lasted just over an hour explored the current situation in the state with the Ambassador expressing his earnest expectation that APC resolve the judicial matters and be on the ballot.
Pastor Tonye Cole in his reaction after the visit told reporters that he “appreciated the US Ambassador for his kind words of advice and his genuine concern for the welfare of our people to take out time to come to Rivers state. “Even though I’ve known Bill before now, this meeting though warm, was also very sober.”
“We discussed ideas around how to create sustainable jobs in the State, reduce the dependence on government, while also increasing the self-sufficiency of our people. We also talked about the possible remediation initiatives for the cleaning up of our oil polluted waterways and lands in ways that benefit Rivers people and the affected communities.”
“I was also very glad to hear that he appreciates the brand of politics that I have brought in and that it has done much to deescalate tensions, calm the polity and reduce political violence. Even outsiders can see each and every one of us has the capacity to make a difference. Rivers state belongs to us all.”
