Okenyi Kenechi
Twitter users have blasted Tonye Patrick Cole, the billionaire oil mogul for calling for an end to police brutality.
Tonye Cole, a Rivers State governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress took to Twitter to call for an end to police brutality as #endsars protests engulfed the entire country.
Cole twitted on Saturday that “The Police Force in Nigeria has its shortcomings, as do most Police Forces around the world, but if the Police Force has 99 problems, BRUTALITY against the Youth in Nigeria shouldn’t be one.
“I applaud the brave youths of Nigeria that are standing up for their rights across the country today.
I am even more convinced that you are the change Nigeria needs.
“Beyond #EndPoliceBrutalitynow, I employ the Youth of this Nation to remember that the fight doesn’t stop here or now.
We must reform Nigeria in all sectors”.
The Police Force in Nigeria has its shortcomings, as do most Police Forces around the world, but if the Police Force has 99 problems, BRUTALITY against the Youth in Nigeria shouldn’t be one.#EndPoliceBrutalitynow
— Tonye Patrick Cole (@TonyeCole1) October 9, 2020
However, he was quickly reminded that his party held a pro-sars rally in Port Harcourt where they praised the then Rivers sars commander, Akin Fakorede.
Werey dey disguise. Few years ago you were against the #Endsars movement.
Now you think you can open your mouth and yarn dust and you expect us to support you!!🤡 https://t.co/fqXXSgouWz
— Va Lue💯 (@marveymax) October 10, 2020
Alaye shut up your mouth. You literally led a pro-SARS rally in Rivers State, just two years ago https://t.co/AYaPicyW6c
— END SARS (@Orunmumipe) October 10, 2020
You led a protest in support of sars just cos you were in opposition to Wike. Sit this one out. https://t.co/vbAz8aNClu
— NIGERIANS STAN ACCT #ENDSARS #ENDPOLICEBRUTALITY (@GrandFeddy) October 10, 2020
dem say this guy na fraud https://t.co/x2rdq1xf3b
— #ENDSARS (@mthechild__) October 10, 2020
God punish you, you two faced bastard.#EndSARS https://t.co/4kkk8vPTVm
— NRTRMR (@NigerianTrbMkr) October 10, 2020
Fraud alert!!! https://t.co/NCh0KMp6aq
— your daddy (@juwon_Catalyst) October 10, 2020
Hypocrite https://t.co/kn7d887M4E
— Zod (@IamCHEMIXTRY) October 10, 2020
This man is a Sars supporter.
Don’t Listen to him… Na fraud!!!!! https://t.co/LSpTE1Ws3U— ♥ Miss Meenaat ♥ #EndSARS (@Aunty_Meenat) October 10, 2020
Sir, if I may… Na ogun go reform your household… #EndSarsNow #EndPoliceBrutality #EndSARS https://t.co/A5QqXjYm8r
— Baldomero (@DannyOseghale) October 10, 2020
Fakorede had a long-running battle with Governor Nyesom Wike who accused him (Fakorede) of being responsible for killings, kidnapping and armed robbery in the state.
However, chieftains of the APC staged a pro-sars rally calling for support for the dreaded police department.
Tonye Princewill and Dumo Lulu-Briggs, both governorship aspirants and big names in Rivers APC politics, were among the chieftains seen in a solidarity match for SARS on December 11 2017.
Others are Asita o Asita, a former deputy governorship aspirant of the APC who is now the chairman of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.
“We believe that there are bad eggs in SARS, just like you have bad eggs in politics, but that is not enough to throw them away,” Mr Chris Fineborn, the then publicity secretary of the party said.