An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Rivers state, Prince Tonye Princewill, has condemned the alleged assassination attempt on the APC governorship candidate in the state, Tonye Cole.
Cole was reportedly attacked last Friday in Bakana-Kalabari area of Rivers State by unknown gunmen.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Princewill expressed concern over pervasive state of insecurity in Rivers state.
The APC chieftain declared that those apprehensive over Mr. Cole’s growing influence and acceptance in the state ahead of next year’s election were behind the evil plot to assassinate him.
He urged security agencies to unmask the unknown gunmen.
“It should be of no surprise to anyone to know that Tonye Cole is not only still active and well, but even more determined to push forward until sanity is restored to our politics again. He is neither bowed nor subdued, but is rather emboldened by his faith and his purpose. He’s here to win. And by God’s grace, he will.
“I want to use this opportunity to first call on the security agencies who are responsible for keeping the peace, to set an example that such acts will never go unpunished,” he said.
He added: “It is the absence of consequence that provides the climate for this type of lawlessness.
“Many of us were not with APC immediately after 2015, when being a member of APC was an invitation to write your will. We won’t accept that. We expect this set of security chiefs to mirror their successes elsewhere. The Niger Delta is the wealth of the nation and Rivers State is the treasure base. It must be secure.”
