Rivers State Rebuilding From Political Ruins As Tonye Cole Addresses Elite Peace Deal And Governor Fubara's Role Ahead Of 2027
In an exclusive interview on Channels Television, APC chieftain and former co-founder of the Sahara Group, Tonye Cole, addressed the dramatic political realignments shaping Rivers State following months of intense executive-legislative warfare. Cole asserted that Governor Siminalayi Fubara had "played himself out" during the recent political friction and that the state is now being forced to rebuild its governance and political structures from scratch.
Commenting on the widely rumored elite peace deal between Fubara and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Cole stated that while the terms remain private, the primary focus must shift from political warfare to long-term democratic stability, inviting all factions—including legacy APC members and aggrieved opposition groups—to unite under a broad coalition to safeguard the state's economic and political future ahead of 2027.
Deep-Dive Analysis
1. The Cost of Political Warfare and the Mechanics of Rebuilding
The prolonged political impasse between the executive and legislative arms in Rivers State crippled local governance, creating a vacuum that Cole argues must be urgently remedied through structural rebuilding.
Governance Paralysis, Elite Peace Bargains, and Citizen Engagement
- End of Governance Freeze: Cole highlighted that for over a year, political infighting, impeachment threats, and floor fights completely halted governance, turning Rivers State into a national political spectacle at the expense of its citizenry.
- The Nature of the Peace Deal: While acknowledging that the specific terms of the Fubara-Wike reconciliation remain outside the public domain, Cole noted that political stability has temporarily returned, allowing the administration to run its course through the remainder of the term.
- Closing the Citizen-Leadership Gap: True rebuilding cannot rely solely on elite compromises. Cole emphasized bridging the divide between the "office of the citizen" and those in power to restore institutional accountability and faith in democracy.
"We are now at the crux of creating a new future for Rivers State. Unfortunately, Governor Fubara had played himself out of that equation in the last political shenanigans... and so we are now having to rebuild Rivers State from scratch, of which he has a choice to be a part of it or not." — Tonye Cole, APC Chieftain & Former Executive Director, Sahara Group
2. Rainbow Coalition, Legacy APC, and Electoral Calculations for 2027
The political landscape in Rivers State is undergoing a massive realignment, merging former rival political structures into a unified coalition aimed at delivering the state in upcoming general elections.
Factional Realignments, Party Identity, and Opposition Dynamics
- Preserving Legacy APC: Cole clarified his role as a defender of the "legacy APC"—the foundational members who built the party structure from 2013/2014—ensuring their representation as external political actors align with the party.
- The Rainbow Coalition Strategy: With former PDP figures and state actors joining forces with the ruling party, a broad coalition has formed with the explicit goal of securing APC's dominance at both state and national levels for 2027.
- Healing Deep Political Scars: Recounting historical instances where political rivalries divided churches and communities, Cole argued that cross-party dialogue is essential to prevent Rivers State from falling back into destructive political violence.
"You no longer have divisions of APC in Rivers State... we have all come into a coalition and that coalition is to deliver APC in Rivers State come 2027. Deliver the president in River State come 2027, and that is what we do." — Tonye Cole
3. Broader National Implications: Opposition Contests and Budget Scams
Beyond state-level realignments, the political dynamics in Rivers State intersect with major national political developments and governance controversies.
National Political Competitiveness and Institutional Oversight
- Impact of Opposition Figures: Responding to Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s emergence as the vice-presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Cole welcomed the development, noting that strong opposition keeps Rivers State central to the national democratic discourse and prevents political complacency.
- NIPC/NIPPC Budget Infiltration Scandal: Addressing the ongoing legislative probes into budget anomalies within investment promotion agencies, Cole described the lapse as embarrassing but called it a critical opportunity to audit systems, tighten institutional checks, and restore investor confidence.
- Demand for Transparency: Cole expressed confidence in ongoing probes by the House of Representatives and ICPC, emphasizing that high international and local visibility will prevent the issue from being swept under the rug.
"It's a shame it happened this way, but it gives Nigeria the opportunity to correct a very vital part of this jigsaw puzzle of how Nigeria can become great tomorrow... Too many eyes are on this one, so the outcome will come out." — Tonye Cole
Published by Qubes Magazine
Founder & Editor-in-Chief: Okwudili Onyido
Stay informed and ahead with breaking news, entertainment, and exclusive updates from Qubes Magazine—your trusted source for digital journalism.
Contact: info@qubesmagazine.com.ng
© 2026 Qubes Magazine. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from the publisher.
Post a Comment