A former governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Rivers State, Prince Tonye Princewill, has said more professionals and community leaders should be involved in the state’s politics
He said the involvement of professionals and community leaders, as well as youths, will help shape policies and hold elected officials accountable.
Princewill, a businessman and philanthropist, made the call while speaking on a live television programme monitored in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The former gubernatorial candidate expressed deep concern over the state’s current political climate and lamented that too many citizens have surrendered their future to a small circle of political elites.
He warned that this disengagement has allowed power to be abused and public trust eroded.
Princewill said, “When you leave politics to just politicians, you get what you’re seeing today. We can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines.”
He emphasised that civic participation shouldn’t stop at voting, but must include sustained engagement, advocacy, and education on democratic values.
The former governorship hopeful said, “The people are the power. And when the people forget that, the politicians will continue to do whatever they like.”
