Gubernatorial Aspirant, Tonye Princewill reveals the real reasons why he wants to be Governor of Rivers state- and why he political party, All Progressive Party is not an option for him.
'Virtually every single day people ask me if
I am running, when will I declare, do I stand a chance and if I am
really serious? My answer each and every time has been something to the
effect of, “Watch this space. Time will tell.” Today is that time.
I have always felt that unlike in 2007, the
decision to run has to be borne out of a collective will to run, not an
individual ambition borne out of a single, self absorbing or
self-centred agenda. If I was to ask the question, I would have phrased
it differently. My version would have been – “Will we run, do we
declare, do we stand a chance and are we serious?” This can not be about
just me.
Rivers state has always struck me as a
state of huge potential, blessed with all kinds of resources most of
which lay above the ground, not under it. I look at it, not with the
eyes of what it is, but what it can be and consequently my mind has been
focused on what it will take to get it there. Nobody rises to low
expectations, not even a state so it is with these goals in mind, my
team set out to chart a path to our collective prosperity. We all know
where this state has come from. In 2007, we had a state that only a few
of us were proud of. Almost eight years later, we run the risk of
returning to that state.
'Violence, kidnappings, politics of bitterness
and ethnic divisions have re-emerged and the peace we all enjoyed is
flickering like a candle in the wind. What went wrong? We have to save
this state.
People who aspire for office are sometimes
bothered enough to go out of their way to tell the people what they will
do for them courtesy of a manifesto. For that, we the people are
grateful. But my team have always insisted that instead of starting with
telling them what you will do for them, why not ask them what they
would want first? One of the habits we learnt is to seek first to
understand, then to be understood. Yes, Steven Covey taught quite a few
of us. That is why in 2012, we carried out a baseline survey of the
wants and needs of Rivers people across almost 200 communities in the 23
LGAs of Rivers state, asking people what they feel about government,
the gaps they see in service delivery and what they would like done
differently. The results and my team’s idea of effective solutions is
the framework from which a roadmap for the renewal of Rivers state has
emerged. The
first of its kind by a civilian.
'I have thought long and hard about politics
and the possibility of running for the position of Governor in Rivers
state. As it stood, here were my options.
Run for Governor under the platform of PDP,
Run for another position,
Be a by-stander in the party or
Retire completely from politics.
Let me confess very quickly that since my
ambition is primarily to deliver our President, working for a party that
will not promote that agenda is not really an option. Even if by some
miracle of omission, APC offered me the ticket on a platter of gold, I
would not take it. In addition, being an “observer” in this climate
reminds me of the phrase that a spectator is either a coward or
ignorant. I’d like to think that I am neither. That leaves me only two
options – running for Governor or retiring from politics and facing my
businesses.
I have thought long and hard over these two
options. Even though I have worked for the men and women of the state
and beyond in my own little way, the inability to satisfy a huge number
of them, even when my own prosperity is put at risk has left me feeling
that I’m best facing me and my family’s troubles, attending to my aged
father, my disabled son, my beautiful wife and my other lovely children.
If I don’t take care of me and mine, will anybody else bother? That is
why the decision to quit politics is attractive, that is why I’m tempted
to hang up my boots, leave the field of play and take a back seat to
help support and usher in a new style of leadership.
In the days and the weeks ahead, I will be
collecting my nomination forms, unveiling my roadmap for the renewal of
Rivers state and introducing my campaign team to the world at our new
state of the art offices here in PH on Aba Rd. I hope that all of you
who hear this message will feel my passion and know my love for what
will soon be one of the greatest states here in Nigeria. Those who know
me, know that as it took me this long to emerge, there will be no
turning back. Have no fear. This train has only one stop and that stop
is Brick House in 2015. I have always maintained that it would be
Governor or nothing. Now it is clear that nothing is not an option.
Our doors will be open to all. We need
volunteers, newcomers to the political scene and seasoned politicians
who believe in the people and Rivers state. If you live in PH, we can be
reached via the phone (text only) on 0807 700 7007, via the web onwww.tonyeprincewill.com, via bb on 79A5A1EC, via Twitter on @tonyeprincewill, via email with tonyeprincewill@gmail.com or
via Facebook at Prince Tonye Princewill. This is the winning team and
even if you don’t come from Rivers state or live in Rivers state, you
can help us achieve what I believe will be a collective victory. Every
little helps. Register online at our website and choose a category to
volunteer in.
We need so much help. I have not
accumulated the wealth others have, I have no state or federal
appointment, been working with the people non stop even when there were
no elections and I don’t have a God father other than God the father. I
may be younger than most, but my team and I guarantee you that winning
will send a message that good men can win too. Today it is me but thanks
to my youth agenda,tomorrow it
may be you or your children. Politics is too important to leave to
politicians. Let’s join hands together to make this work. You know we
can.
Thank you.'
God bless Rivers state,
God bless the Niger Delta,
God bless Nigeria.
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