Rivers 2019: APC chieftains stunned as Amaechi names billionaire businessman as preferred guber candidate
Victor Azubuike Victor Azubuike
6 hours ago

Billionaire businessman and oil magnate, Tonye Dele Cole has emerged as the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi’s preferred candidate for the Rivers State Governorship election in 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.


Amaechi broke the news to leaders of the party at a brief meeting held in Lagos before travelling to China, ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s trip this weekend.

Amaechi picked Tonye Cole, ahead of other aspirants including: Senator Magnus Abe, Chief Dumo-Lulu Briggs, Director-General of NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside and former Senior Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Bekingbo Dagogo-Jack.


DAILY POST reports that those at the meeting include; Senator Andrew Uchendu,newly-defected Senator Osi Ideozor, former Executive Director of NDDC, Henry Ogiri, NIMASA DG, Dakuku Peterside and Prince Tonye Princewill.

Others are: Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, former Commissioner for Transport in Rivers state, George Tolofari, Sekonte Davies, Azubike Wanjoku among others.

An impeccable source at the meeting said the Rivers APC leaders were shocked as Amaechi named Cole.


He quoted the Minister as saying the businessman was picked for a “neutral purpose.”

A transcribed script of Amaechi’s speech obtained by DAILY POST quotes the Minister as saying, “We are aware that not all would find it easy to accept the decision but I am also conscious that the decision was made for the best interests of the party and the group. We are aware that interests are divergent and numerous. And that they can only coalesce if we get someone neutral; someone who is able to get every interests to converge as one.

“What is critical is victory. Loyalty is not only when it favours you but when you are tempted and stretched to your limits. Ventilate we must, but to move ahead we also must as the battles ahead are numerous and tedious.

“You all urged me on to proceed to make a decision and swore to stand by that decision. The time has therefore come to be together. God bless all of us,” Amaechi said.

But the source, who pleaded anonymity, said there was silence after Amaechi’s speech until the Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator Andrew Uchendu, expressed marvel at the announcement.

Senator Uchendu was quoted as saying, “I am not sure any of us here has Tonye Cole’s telephone number much more meeting him in person. So, Your Excellency, how would we market him?”.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress and its leaders in Rivers state are yet to react to the development in Lagos.

Tonye Dele Cole is the CEO/Executive Director, Sahara Group and was once a ministerial nominee alongside Nyesom Wike by Amaechi in 2012 where former President Goodluck Jonathan picked Wike who was then appointed Minister of State for Education.


http://dailypost.ng/2018/08/31/rivers-2019-apc-chieftains-stunned-amaechi-names-billionaire-businessman-preferred-guber-candidate/



Ideozu Reportedly Dumps PDP For APC
By ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, PORT HARCOURT - 4 days ago

The senator representing Rivers West senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Osinakachukwu ThankGod Ideozu has ‘dumped’ the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Until his move into the APC, Ideozu was the only PDP senator from Rivers State in the National Assembly as both Senators Magnus Ngei Abe and Andrew Igbonule Uchendu, representing Rivers South-East and East respectively belong to the APC.

https://leadership.ng/2018/08/27/ideozu-reportedly-dumps-pdp-for-apc/

Now this is from a renowned new platform. Rivers state, Delta state and Akwa Ibom state are in pulse. All other states in the SS/SE are going to give Baba 25% or slightly above. The apology from PDP is not enough until they return fully all the money they looted and repent from their past sins, that is when we can forgive and think about them. For now, 2019 is already a walkover for Baba.

But no part of your report talked about the "only PDP senator defecting to APC"

I like it when successful and seasoned entrepreneurs get to leadership positions. They always make huge impact

Na Amaechi dey conduct primaries now? You want to scatter everything again.