By: Felix Ikpotor
Factional gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, has finally apologised to the Bille Council of Chiefs and the kingdom over bunkery and gun running comments he made.
Cole while appearing on a live radio program in Port Harcourt last weekend, said that Bille Community is the heart of oil bunkering and gun running in Rivers State.
Cole who was trying to explain the security situation bedeviling the state said there are plenty guns in the area.
But the comment did not go down well with Bille Kingdom’s Council of Chiefs who in a statement on Monday, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Tonye Cole to tender an apology to the kingdom or face a law suit.
However, Cole’s campaign organization in a statement by it head of communications, Mr. Ogbonna Nwuke on Tuesday said:
“It has been brought to the knowledge of the Tonye Cole Campaign Organization that certain comments made by our Candidate, Pastor Tonye Cole, during a live radio programme in Port Harcourt has not been well received by the good people of Bille Kingdom.
” As responsible citizens of this great state who are committed to the welfare and wellbeing of our people, it has become pertinent to address the concerns of our brothers and sisters in Bille, especially where matters that concern them may be interpreted to mean portraying them in bad light.
“We want to state for the avoidance that what is trending at the moment does not in any way reflect the inner intent of Pastor Tonye Cole. What is rather trending is the direct opposite of Cole’s actual intent.
” Our standard bearer has respect for the people of Rivers State and the Bille community in particular. He equally feels the pain of the people over a system that has supervised their exclusion from the receipt of basic amenities.
” This is why he took it upon himself to embark on a ward to ward tour in order to have a working understanding of the situation on ground.
” Pastor Tonye Cole has, and will continue to preach peace and unity. In the same vein, Cole will work for the equitable development of all parts of the Rivers State in order to ensure the betterment of the people.
” On behalf of the entire campaign organization, we apologize if the comments complained of have brought embarrassment to people of the Bille Kingdom”
Earlier, while speaking on behalf of the Amayanabo-in-Council, Vice Chairman of Bille Kingdom Chiefs Council, Alabo Ibitamino Minapakama, called on Cole to tender apology for accusing the people wrongly.
Minapakama said it was wrong for Cole to go on air and pass biased judgment on the kingdom, adding that Bille remains the most peaceful community in Ijaw nation.
He said: “It is totally unacceptable that Cole could maliciously portray the calm and peaceful Bille Kingdom in such a negative light. Bille Kingdom rejects and condemns in its entirety, the surreptitious move by Cole to bring calamity upon the kingdom”.
