Former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, has described Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s emergence as controversial from the beginning, urging political leaders to seize the current moment to redefine governance in the state.

Cole made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he reflected on Fubara’s reconciliation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the broader political climate in Rivers.

According to Cole, Fubara likely consulted with close allies before deciding to mend fences with Wike, a move he believes was aimed at completing his tenure without further distractions.

“My assumption is that the governor would have gone with his own close allies, discussed with them, and said that this is the best way… But having taken the responsibility to finish his term, he has to do it in a way that allows him to govern. He can’t go back into fighting,” Cole said.

He argued that Fubara’s path to office had been disputed from the outset, with the prolonged feud between him and his predecessor destabilizing the state.

“The method with which he came into power in the first instance was contentious. Throughout the period, the contention between himself and his predecessor created a lot of problems for Rivers State. That could not have been the wishes of the people,” he added.

Despite the turbulence, Cole expressed optimism that Rivers now has an opportunity to embrace a new style of leadership and a more transparent electoral process.

“We have an opportunity in Rivers State to set a different type of governance, a different type of process in electing those who represent us in power. My prayer is that we do it right,” he said.

Fubara and Wike’s political feud, which began shortly after Fubara assumed office in May 2023, split the Rivers State House of Assembly and triggered a series of legal and political battles. 

The crisis escalated in March 2025 when President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency, suspending Fubara and other officials for six months.

The governor returned to office after a reconciliation brokered by the President, pledging to restore stability and focus on governance. 

However, observers note that tensions within the state’s political class remain.

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