Taunts Tonye Cole for calling candidates to drop out of race
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The governorship candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), in Rivers State, Sobomabo Jackrich, has faulted the call by his counterpart, Tonye Cole, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), that all governorship candidates from Kalabari ethnic nationality in other political parties should jettison their ambition and support him in the forthcoming election.
Jackrich has also dismissed the recent endorsement of Tonye Cole for the governorship by Asari Dokubo, saying that the endorsement was inconsequential because it came from a party (APC) member.
Also, Jackrich has declared that he is not a desperate politician, but has made himself available to govern the state because Rivers is in dire need of a leader with credibility, not titles.
He made the statements at a media parley in Port Harcourt, yesterday, stressing that Cole’s call for other governorship candidates from Kalabari extraction to step down for him showed that he had lost confidence in himself.
He said: “I heard over the radio that the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, called his colleagues or other governorship candidates from Kalabari extraction to jettison their own ambition for him. Well, I would say that is outrageous. That statement does not make sense.
“Tonye Cole coming on air inviting us to support him means that he does not have confidence in himself. Two weeks ago, we were together in Abuja. We sat together for several hours and he could not tell me anything one-on-one. So, for him to come on air to make such a statement means that he simply wants people to notice him.
“The call is abnormal. He should look at my face and tell me this is what I want. By that statement he made, he has already failed before the election. Forget about the drama and gimmicks they are displaying.
“I am not saying he (Tonye Cole) does not have the wherewithal to govern Rivers State; what I am saying is this, we were at an event for hours where, even if he didn’t want to tell me his intention, he could have told the celebrant what he has in mind. But, coming on air to make the statement means he doesn’t have confidence in himself.
“I am my party’s governorship flag bearer and you (Tonye Cole) are telling me to jettison my ambition for you. Do we share the same vision and ideology? We are talking about our father’s land, Rivers State. With the vision, I have, if given the opportunity, by God’s grace, I would certainly be able to do something different.
“On the endorsement of Tonye Cole by Asari Dokubo, of course, what do you expect from a party man? It is not something that is new. In fact, Tonye Cole has been endorsed before by Asari Dokubo and APC. However, he has the right to his opinion to endorse or support whoever he likes. That has nothing to do with my vision and candidature. He is on his own.
“We are out for business. We are not one of those people who are out to deceive Rivers people. We are not desperate politicians. We are out because we saw that there is a need for Rivers State to elect credibility into governance. We are not out to answer some names that a biblical, but, yet, acting differently.”
The NRM governorship candidate explained that his five-point agenda (also called five-pillars of hope) is targeted at changing the narrative of rural-urban migration.
He said: “When social amenities are provided at the community level, it would bring development and reduce urban migration. I live in the village and I have seen the problems and what the people in the rural areas are passing through.
“I decided to leave Port Harcourt and reside in the village because I needed to be closer to the people and feel their pulse. Some people are deceived by plenty of cars they see among candidates. Nigerians assess politicians by the fleet of cars they have. That is wrong.
“What I am saying is simple, Rivers State does not need who speaks so much. Rivers State does not need a person who is wealthy or who has too many titles. Rivers State is in dire need of a credible leader. We are out to rebrand Rivers State.”