EXCLUSIVE:-Defending-the-Soul-of-Rivers – A-Conversation-with-Arch.-Tom-T.-Inko-Tariah

EXCLUSIVE: Defending the Soul of Rivers – A Conversation with Arch. Tom T. Inko-Tariah

​Location: Office of Tom Inko-Tariah, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Date: April 28, 2026

Interviewer: CEO, Wisdom Tide News

​Wisdom Tide News: Architect Tom, thank you for having me. The political atmosphere in Rivers State is already heating up ahead of 2027. Recently, Tonye Cole suggested that the weakening of opposition parties is a "universal political reality." You’ve been quite vocal in your disagreement. Why does his stance bother you so much?

​Arch. Tom  Inko-Tariah: Thank you for coming. It bothers me because it normalizes a sickness in our democracy. When you call the deliberate dismantling of opposition a "universal reality," you aren't just describing politics; you are providing an intellectual shield for anti-democratic conduct. There is a massive difference between outworking your opponent and predatory erosion. My brother Tonye frames this as a global standard, but I see it as a dangerous fallacy. The survival of our republic shouldn't depend on an opposition’s ability to survive an onslaught of state-sponsored interference. It should depend on the ruling party’s respect for the rule of law.

​Wisdom Tide News: But isn't politics, by nature, a "cut and thrust" game? Is it not natural for a ruling party to want to stay in power by any means?

​Arch. Tom Inko-Tariah: "By any means" is where the tragedy begins. To suggest that dismantling opponents is a "natural inclination" is a cynical philosophy that prioritizes party dominance over national stability. Look at what is happening—judicial processes are being leveraged to manufacture leadership crises within parties like the ADC and the PDP. That isn’t "competition." That is institutional capture.

​"When we use legal technicalities and manufactured internal strife to win, we aren't leading; we are occupying. The people of Rivers State deserve an environment where ideas determine the victor, not state-sponsored sabotage."

​Wisdom Tide News: You’ve mentioned that true leadership should render the opposition "redundant through excellence." That’s a bold claim. How do you apply that to your 2027 governorship vision for Rivers State?

​Arch. Tom T. Inko-Tariah: It’s simple: If you provide world-class infrastructure, security, and economic opportunities, the opposition will have nothing to campaign on. That is the only legitimate way to "weaken" an opponent. My vision for Rivers State is rooted in a brand of politics where state resources and the sanctity of our courts are never used as instruments of partisan warfare.

​Wisdom Tide News: Some would say you are being too idealistic for the "trenches" of Rivers State politics. How do you respond to critics who say you need to "play dirty" to survive here?

​Arch. Tom T. Inko-Tariah: (Smiling) If "playing dirty" means destroying the very institutions we hope to preside over, then what are we winning? A throne of ashes? I am an Architect by profession; I believe in foundations. If the foundation of our 2027 process is built on subverting the will of the people through tactical suppression, the house will eventually collapse. We must foster a culture where the legitimacy of the process is protected by all players. The only force that should dictate the fall of a political fortune is the will of the voters.

​Wisdom Tide News: Final word for the people of Rivers State as they look toward 2027?

​Arch. Tom T. Inko-Tariah: Do not accept the normalization of dysfunction. We are at a crossroads where we must choose between the "politics of subversion" and the "politics of integrity." I choose the latter. I am Tom T. Inko-Tariah, and I believe Rivers State can—and must—lead the way in defending the democratic integrity of Nigeria.

​Wisdom Tide News: Architect, thank you for your time.

​Arch. Tom T. Inko-Tariah: My pleasure.