Opinion: THE TONYE OPTION – A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY RIVERS PEOPLE MUST NOT MISS. – Kingsley Wali

“What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them – that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply” ~ Barrack Obama

“We are a nation of people blessed with creative energy and we are beginning to rank with the world’s most promising and talked about stars in the culinary, music, fashion, cinematic and literary worlds.”~ Tonye Cole

Since the window for a TONYE COLE OPTION was opened, a couple of people have raised a few reservations. While some have been fair in their criticism of the TONYE COLE OPTION, some others have just been mischievous & spoken from the point of malice. However, because we are focused on issues based campaign, I will respond to their fears & ignore the mischievous innuendos.

1- TONYE DELE COLE is either not a known or popular son of Rivers state.
The truth is that Tonye was born in PHC & destiny took him around the world in the course of education & personal development. Of course, it is public knowledge that he attended the best schools out-there & acquired quality education thereof and this has helped him acquire a worldview that greatly prepared him to be the success story that he has become.

Therefore, TDC travelled & has seen. IF WE SAY THAT LANDLORD SHOULD TRAVEL AND SEE, shouldn’t we benefit from what “Landlord TDC” has seen after traveling? IT IS CALLED EXPERIENCE. We therefore want Rivers state to be a beneficiary.

2- Some have questioned his knowledge of politics & if he is groomed sufficiently enough to get involved in the murkiness of Rivers state politics. To these queries, my response will be in the words of Peter Ekekwe ….”Politics is not a profession. That most people have turned it into their profession is part of the reasons we are where we are today. Anyone who has conquered the politics of business and Governance cannot be seen as a neophyte .”.

3- There are people who have questioned his level of participation in the affairs of Rivers state. They fear that he is not suited for the office because he doesn’t understand the terrain. I just want to use this opportunity to inform them that TDC helped to form the idea & vision of the Greater Port Harcourt development & was once the Chairman of the Greater Port Harcourt governing board. Also, apart from been a private economic & projects counselor/advisor of His Excellency, Gov Chibuike Amaechi, TDC was for the greater part of that visionary govt, a member of the Economic Team of the same govt. It was in the same capacity that Gov. Godwin Obaseki “acquired the knowledge of Edo State politics” & just like Gov Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State.

4- Then there are those who have alleged that TDC does not have a political structure that he will use to ride to victory both at the primaries and the governorship election. My response is that the only structure that is authentic is the structure of the All Progressives Congress, that is oiled & nurtured by the Honorable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi.

EVERY OTHER PERSON HAS EITHER BEEN A BENEFICIARY OR DESIRE TO BE A BENEFICIARY. If we say it is a lie or fallacy, why not remain in PDP & challenge Gov Ezenwo Wike or decamp to either KOWA, APP or the “new rave”, SDP. It is my advise that we quietly seek the benefits of the CRA political vineyard with humility & not make noise about how monkey has been working & baboon wants to come & eat.

CRA has mostly been the monkey & the rest of us, largely the baboons. We know those who contributed to the APC in 2013,2014,2015 & thereafter. If you were invited to a party, don’t claim ownership because you’re the best dressed or dancer. In truth, WE SEEK TO BENEFIT FROM CRA’s GOODWILL AND THE SUPPORT OF ALL APC MEMBERS. It is our prayer that TDC should be supported with our collective grassroots capacity. TDC does not claim to be everything, but that which he has, will help the state flourish. He needs your grassroots support to be able to apply his experience. That’s actually the true meaning of partnership.

5- HAS TDC DECLARED HIS INTEREST? My simple answer is that no one has declared his interest to run for the governorship of Rivers state. Not even the incumbent. All those who know TDC can swear that he is a gentleman & a silent achiever, who is not lawless nor desperate. We all know that the the leader of the party in the state has appealed to all who are interested in vying for any political office to hold their fire & concentrate more on building the party. While this has been observed by some largely in breach, TDC will certainly not disrespect the leader or the party by doing anything to undermine our leader or the party & make them look ridiculous. At the auspicious time, the law abiding & respecting ones will declare their interest. AND WHEN THAT TIME COMES, TDC WILL SPEAK & “WHEN TONYE SPEAKS EVENTUALLY, HE WILL SPEAK LIFE TO THE POLITY AND TO THE ECONOMY” of Rivers state. (Ekpiri Ebube)

“Rivers State needs a remaking. A task that would require men and women to roll up their sleeves to accomplish it. The task is so enormous that we would need all hands to be on deck with the Tonye Dele Cole on the Rudder as the Captain!”- George Azunda Chinda

Just to let you know that TDC knows what the challenges are, he feels that : “A strong eco-system which enables the growth of these sectors is sorely needed. Nigeria needs to be focused on steering the economy towards much greater diversification. It will be most unfortunate if we allow our progress to be impeded by the distractions that will inevitably come with the 2019 presidential election cycle.”

Let’s join hands with progressive to bring our state back from the brink by supporting a TONYE DELE-COLE OPTION.