As the nation again conducts fresh polls on Saturday, March 9, for governorship and state assembly seats, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State,
Tonye Princewill has cautioned politicians across party divides in the state to ensure that peace thrive today and after the election.
Princewill who incidentally is the Director, Strategic Communications, Tonye Cole campaign organisation expressed his concern over the violence that marred the conduct of the presidential and national assembly elections penultimate weekend in his home state.
He noted that bad news travels fast and warned the political class to stop giving Rivers a bad name which he further noted was a disincentive to investment.
He said: ” The news in the country on Rivers State is often fashionably negative and we as leaders can not simply blame it on the media. We all have a responsibility too. While some are fascinated by the headlines, we are the ones who have to suffer the impact of these negative headlines and tarnished reputations.”
“Without security, we can not attract business, without business you can not create jobs and without jobs you can not have peace.
“Two Northerners competed keenly for the office of President and it is in Rivers that our people were killing each other. How does that make sense? Having said that, people will not realize that most of Rivers state was peaceful.
“In Asari Toru where I was, Phalga and Abua LGA where historically violence has been the norm, people from opposing parties were seen sitting together at the collation center and cracking jokes. You don’t hear that do you because bad news travels fast. Leaders should think beyond today and ourselves.”
He also called on the international community to sanction people who obtain power through violence and the blood of innocent people saying that sanctions, travel restrictions and account freezes are what will hit a politician where it hurts. “We are tired of their barking. They need to start to develop teeth.”
and then