Tony Cole, the All Progressives Congress (APC ) gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election in Rivers State, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to engage Patience Jonathan, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan to mediate in the ongoing political crisis in the state.
Cole stated this while speaking on the political crisis rocking the state during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today.
He said that Tinubu should also engage former governors Ada George, Peter Odilli, and pastor David Ibiyeomie to talk to the warring parties.
Cole said, “There are certain people that Mr President has to empower to go and speak on his behalf and call the warring parties because they have larger interests in the state. Just on the top of my head I can name four people who can mediate.
“I will first of all call an old politician who was the governor of the state like Ada George. I will call somebody who is considered to be a strong spiritual leader in the state David Ibiyeomie. I know they both respect him.
“I will call an elder statesman who has very little to do with politics. He is the right person. I will call Peterside. And probably because of all that happened in one way or the other in the whole Rivers State whether negative or positive, I will also call Her Excellency, Patience Jonathan.
“If these four people are mandated to sit the two warring factions, you may want to call Peter Odilli. Whatever the case, bring these and have them speak to the two warring factions because of the future of the state. And I think the president needs to do something. He may feel that he needs to come in. Bring people who have interest for the larger purpose of the state.”