Oil magnate, Tonye Dele-Cole, is poised to fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Rivers State governorship election next year, following the adoption of his candidacy by stakeholders at their apex leadership caucus meeting in Lagos on Thursday.

Observers had expected the ticket to be a straight fight between the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr.Dakuku Peterside and Senator Magnus Abe.

That, however, was not to be as the Lagos meeting, presided over by Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, who doubles as APC leader in Rivers State, gave Cole the nod.

Other party leaders at the Lagos meeting included oil magnate, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs; the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside; a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, Chief Sam Jaja and Senator Andrew Uchendu (Rivers East).

Informed sources said that Amaechi wanted a ‘neutral’ candidate that would be largely acceptable to the mainstream APC in the state as well as the Abe faction of the party.

Amaechi has been pushing for a candidate from the riverine part of the state to take over from the incumbent governor, Nyesom Wike. The riverine area has not produced governor since 1999.

Cole, an architect and Chief Executive of Sahara Energy, is a son of Dr. Partick Dele Cole, a former managing director of Daily Times and a former ambassador of Nigeria to Brazil.

He is from Abonnema-Kalabari, headquarters of Akuku-Toru (rivernine) Local Government Area.

He attended the Lagos meeting along with Peterside who was the party’s candidate in the 2015 election.

The NIMASA boss welcomed Cole’s endorsement yesterday as did Abe, who was not at the meeting. But Abe said he was not aware that Cole was an APC member.

Peterside, in his response, said: “Our leader, Rt. Hon. Amaechi,” whose leadership they all subscribed to, made a decision on who members of the party in Rivers State should back for the office of governor of Rivers State in 2019, with the lot falling on his friend and brother in Christ (Cole).

“I made a commitment to the group earlier to stand by whatever decision the leader makes in the overall interest of the party and Rivers State. I reiterated my position yesterday (on Thursday) in the leadership meeting. I thus stand by the decision on Tonye Cole.

“We have toiled from 2013 to date (a period of five years) and have made sacrifices and lost lives in the course of enthroning the kind of government we want in Rivers State; a government that will guarantee peace, unity and prosperity. In the course of the struggle, we bonded as one indivisible family under God.

“The decision by the leader has been met with mixed reactions, which is expected. My appeal is that we allow the greater interest of APC and Rivers State to prevail.

“To those who believe in the vision I shared in the past five years, the leadership I gave at various times and the path of loyalty to the cause I have chosen over time, I urge you all to stand by the Leader, the party and the ordinary people of Rivers State in support of Tonye Cole.

“I personally pledge my loyalty to the Leader (who is to me family) and the decision he has made. I enjoin all my supporters to queue behind our leader (Amaechi) and ensure total victory for our party.”

Peterside also prayed for unity among the members of APC and victory in the 2019 elections.

Abe, a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), who hails from Bera-Ogoni in the upland part, said on the phone yesterday that he was “not aware of any meeting of APC stakeholders in Rivers State that has been held and endorsed anybody.”

He added: “I have said it on several occasions that anyone who is interested in serving Rivers people should come forward and offer themselves and make their plans known.

“If a Tonye Cole has been so endorsed, it is a very welcome development. He should come forward and offer himself and make himself known to Rivers people.

“I, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, have said I am going to vie for the governorship ticket of our party, the APC, and I want to repeat that I will vie for the governorship ticket of APC.

“Every other Rivers son or daughter who believes that he or she has the capacity and the experience to offer the needed services that our state needs at this time is welcome.

“As far as I know, I have not known Tonye Cole to be a member of the party (APC). But if he has decided to join the party as to contest for the governorship, it is a welcome development.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/2019-amaechi-other-rivers-apc-leaders-adopt-sahara-oil-boss-tonye-cole-for-governorship/

Waste of time

I see

Rivers state candidancy we’ll be marlled with violence.

Area will be violate as usual

Amaechi always brings unpopular candidates to contest elections in Rivers State. Magnus will easily beat Cole hands down in any election

If he is a good manager of man and resources with the needed skill to put the state in the right direction, way to go.

Rivers state need an opposition candidate that can stand Wike at the polls and get the electorates behind him/her. The wanton violence and killings in the state is an issue to be faced head-on.

So long as Tonye's candidacy will be an unanimous one and not further lead to internal rancour within the party, he sure is good to go.

Enjoy the story on my siggy for the weekend and preorder your paperbacks

All the best good man.

Amechi wants to change the culture of Rivers state. He want a better role model for the youth.

Rivers state have been ruled by thugs who grow through cultism to become Governors,Senators etc. Amechi, Wike,.Abe, Dakuku are product of growing through the street with alot of evil,cultism and thuggery to get to where they are .

As a result many rivers youth believe they will become successful by following thier footstep.


By endorsing Tonye Cole, Amechi want to change the narrative. He want a rivers state govern by technocrat and professional. People who can think beyond gangster politics like himself,Wike,Abe,Dakuku etc.

I think the progress and success of lagos, Anambra and recently Edo have thought Amechi that professionals are better manager of state than lifetime street politicians.

Obiano was a professional banker when Peter Obi made him a governor. We can see the progress in Anambra.

In edo state Obaseki was a professional investment banker when Oshiomole brought him to edo state to manage the economy and the state . Today, Edo state is becoming the most investment friendly state in Nigeria since Obaseki became Governor.

If Amechi succeed to make Tonye Cole Governor of rivers state, that will be a major cultural shift in River state. It will promote interest in Education and legitimate lifestyles in River state among the youth.

Below is a report from vanguard (A pro PDP newspaper) saying Delta state is losing Manufacturers to Edo state since Obaseki a technocrat became Governor.

Manufacturers relocate from Delta State to Edo, cite reforms

adekunle adekunle
1 week ago

The positive disposition of the Godwin Obaseki-led administration in Edo State towards a private sector-led economy and the elimination of barriers to business through reforms, are pulling businesses from neighbouring Delta State.


According to manufacturers, the exodus of companies to Edo State from Delta State is happening on the back of the growing investor confidence, which in turn is a factor of the ease with which business owners are conducting their activities in Edo State, devoid of man-made encumbrances that impact their bottom line in Delta State.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/08/growing-investor-confidence-manufacturers-relocate-from-delta-state-to-edo-cite-obasekis-reforms/

Same man Amaechi sold rivers assets to and looted Rivers dry through his coy

He is a better opponent than Fakuku

make tonye cole avoid politics.

You see this 2019 election?

Na God go save person for this Rivers State!


If you know, you know

There are States APC can't penetrate and Rivers is one of such, I wish Tonye Cole would realize this!

thieves and rogues....

Tonyee Cole used to knack Kenya Moore of Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Let's Wait For Reaction From Sen. Magnus Abe

Better to vote people who at least have a second source of income. Tired of these con men whose only life achievement is how they started as Councillor n ended up as Governor or Senator.

Under the nose of Uche Secondus, PDP is losing its strong hold.

To make things worse, he's the PDP chairman and that's his territory.

Under the nose of Wike, PDP is losing another state.

With his gragra, I can't wait to see the expression on his face when he loses the state to APC.

It was done in Ekiti, Rivers is next!

Any APC governorship candidate in Rivers should be ready to be Governor already.

And looking at the candidature of Tonye Dele-Cole, it's a done deal already.

Mr Cole, a very fine gentle man. Speaks Yoruba fluently

I personally think all successful business men should take some cue from Dangote and stay away from Nigerian politics except you are willing to always come out to defend it.

Besides, APC cannot win Rivers until 2023 after Wike 's tenure and if they win the Presidential seat come 2019; only then can they defeat Wike's imposed successor - trust me, Wike would do a Fayose in 2019 - and they are managing to spread their tentacles into the SS, seeing as political big wigs are fast decamping from that region.

odiks:
Oil magnate, Tonye Dele-Cole, is poised to fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Rivers State governorship election next year, following the adoption of his candidacy by stakeholders at their apex leadership caucus meeting in Lagos on Thursday.

Observers had expected the ticket to be a straight fight between the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr.Dakuku Peterside and Senator Magnus Abe.

That, however, was not to be as the Lagos meeting, presided over by Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, who doubles as APC leader in Rivers State, gave Cole the nod.

Other party leaders at the Lagos meeting included oil magnate, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs; the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside; a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, Chief Sam Jaja and Senator Andrew Uchendu (Rivers East).

Informed sources said that Amaechi wanted a ‘neutral’ candidate that would be largely acceptable to the mainstream APC in the state as well as the Abe faction of the party.

Amaechi has been pushing for a candidate from the riverine part of the state to take over from the incumbent governor, Nyesom Wike. The riverine area has not produced governor since 1999.

Cole, an architect and Chief Executive of Sahara Energy, is a son of Dr. Partick Dele Cole, a former managing director of Daily Times and a former ambassador of Nigeria to Brazil.

He is from Abonnema-Kalabari, headquarters of Akuku-Toru (rivernine) Local Government Area.

He attended the Lagos meeting along with Peterside who was the party’s candidate in the 2015 election.

The NIMASA boss welcomed Cole’s endorsement yesterday as did Abe, who was not at the meeting. But Abe said he was not aware that Cole was an APC member.

Peterside, in his response, said: “Our leader, Rt. Hon. Amaechi,” whose leadership they all subscribed to, made a decision on who members of the party in Rivers State should back for the office of governor of Rivers State in 2019, with the lot falling on his friend and brother in Christ (Cole).

“I made a commitment to the group earlier to stand by whatever decision the leader makes in the overall interest of the party and Rivers State. I reiterated my position yesterday (on Thursday) in the leadership meeting. I thus stand by the decision on Tonye Cole.

“We have toiled from 2013 to date (a period of five years) and have made sacrifices and lost lives in the course of enthroning the kind of government we want in Rivers State; a government that will guarantee peace, unity and prosperity. In the course of the struggle, we bonded as one indivisible family under God.

“The decision by the leader has been met with mixed reactions, which is expected. My appeal is that we allow the greater interest of APC and Rivers State to prevail.

“To those who believe in the vision I shared in the past five years, the leadership I gave at various times and the path of loyalty to the cause I have chosen over time, I urge you all to stand by the Leader, the party and the ordinary people of Rivers State in support of Tonye Cole.

“I personally pledge my loyalty to the Leader (who is to me family) and the decision he has made. I enjoin all my supporters to queue behind our leader (Amaechi) and ensure total victory for our party.”

Peterside also prayed for unity among the members of APC and victory in the 2019 elections.

Abe, a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), who hails from Bera-Ogoni in the upland part, said on the phone yesterday that he was “not aware of any meeting of APC stakeholders in Rivers State that has been held and endorsed anybody.”

He added: “I have said it on several occasions that anyone who is interested in serving Rivers people should come forward and offer themselves and make their plans known.

“If a Tonye Cole has been so endorsed, it is a very welcome development. He should come forward and offer himself and make himself known to Rivers people.

“I, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, have said I am going to vie for the governorship ticket of our party, the APC, and I want to repeat that I will vie for the governorship ticket of APC.

“Every other Rivers son or daughter who believes that he or she has the capacity and the experience to offer the needed services that our state needs at this time is welcome.

“As far as I know, I have not known Tonye Cole to be a member of the party (APC). But if he has decided to join the party as to contest for the governorship, it is a welcome development.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/2019-amaechi-other-rivers-apc-leaders-adopt-sahara-oil-boss-tonye-cole-for-governorship/

Another Dakuku? this man (Tonye) is of no match to Wike na. It's crystal clear Amaechi has lost his thinking.
What Surprises me is that I'm just hearing Tonye for the first time in Rivers state APC

That's a blow considering his tribe


Wike is in deep mess. The amount of APC support springing up in River state presently spells doom

MrWondah:
Same man Amaechi sold rivers assets to and looted Rivers dry through his coy

He is a better opponent than Fakuku

Says who? They sold the moribund Olympia Hotel and that's more like a bareland.

I did the valuation, so I know what I'm talking about

highness25:
Another Dakuku? this man (Tonye) is of no match to Wike na. It's crystal clear Amaechi has lost his thinking.
What Surprises me is that I'm just hearing Tonye for the first time in Rivers state APC

You ain't know politics trust me.

You can't even see the Joker Ameachi is playing

NIGERIA is gradually growing, however we really need to do away with leaders who parade everywhere with PISSING TUBES.

Waste of time... Wike is still the incumbent governor of Rivers state

Benekruku:


You ain't know politics trust me.
You can't even see the Joker Ameachi is playing

meaning?

Good

life2017:
Amechi wants to change the culture of Rivers state. He want a better role model for the youth.

Rivers state have ruled by thugs who grow through cultism to become Governors,Senators etc. Amechi, Wike,.Abe, Dakuku are product growing through the street with alot of evil,cultism and thuggery to get to where they are .

As a result many rivers youth believe they will become successful by following thier footstep.


By endorsing Tonye Cole, Amechi want to change the narrative. He want a rivers state govern by technocrat and professional. People who can think beyond gangster politics like himself,Wike,Abe,Dakuku etc.

I think the progress and success of lagos, Anambra and recently have thought Amechi that professionals are better manager of state that life time street politicians.

Obiano was a professional bankee when Peter Obi made him a governor. We can see the progress in Anambra.

In edo state Obaseki was a professional investment bankee when Oshiomole brought to edo state to manage the economy and the state today. Edo state is becoming the most investment friendly state in Nigeria since Obake became Governor.

well thought out! It's nice trend if we have to pull our societies from the woods: from the grip of mediocrers.

For the love of Rivers state the toughest and strongest state

This Peterside man is humble, even d way he talks, very simple & a man with few words. I was surprised he wasn't d one chosen.

castrokins:
Let's Wait For Reaction From Sen. Magnus Abe

You don't need to wait. His reaction was stated in the article. You may need to read again, this time to the end.

Wike will crush this one.