Politics

Ahead of 2019: Amaechi, Dakuku Peterside, Asita endorse Oil mogul, Tonye as APC governorship candidate

… We are not aware, no adoption Aspirants to face party primaries Rivers APC Spokesman

… Senator Magnus yet to react

Ahead of the 2019 Governorship elections, Minister of the Transport Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is said to have endorsed Mr. Tonye Dele Cole, Founder of the Sahara Energy Resources Limited, oil and Gas businessman as his preferred candidate to fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers.

Although Amaechi, who is the leader of the party has not made his choice official, however, his very close ally and the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, who was the Governorship in 2015 and his Deputy Governorship candidate, Honorable Asita O. Asita have both pledge their support pledged their support in the choice of Arc. Tony Dele Cole as the All Progressives Congress, APC, gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 election.

Peterside, who made his support official in a statement he personally signed on today, Friday, August 31, made available to our Correspondent, called on APC faithful to rally support behind Mr. Cole, whom he called “my friend and brother in Christ”, for the sake of APC and the ordinary people of Rivers State.

In a statement he signed in person, which he captioned “Unity to Triumph”, Peterside, recalled his earlier commitment to stand by whatever decision Amaechi would make in the overall interest of the party and Rivers state. “I reiterated my position yesterday in the leadership meeting. I thus stand by the decision on TDC (Tonye Dele Cole)”, Peterside said.

The NIMASA DG, a frontline contender until the Thursday announcement by Amaechi, said that APC and its members in Rivers Stat had toiled to build the party, which involved loss of lives. “We have toiled from 2013 to date (a period of five years ) and have made sacrifices and lost lives in course of enthroning the kind of government we want in Rivers State; a government that will guarantee peace , unity and prosperity. In course of the struggle we bonded as one, indivisible family under God.”

Peterside, who noted that Amaechi’s decision on Cole had met “mixed reactions” which he said was expected, however, noted that the greater good of APC and Rivers State should be paramount.

“To those who believe in the vision I shared in the past 5 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 TDC . 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 CRA (Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi) and ensure total victory for our party.”

However, APC in Rivers State through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, said the party is unaware of such endorsement by Amaechi to pick somebody neutral to the political bickering that has led to two parallel secretariats of the party in the state. as it has not been made official.

Mr. Finebone said that party’s constitution does not give room for adoption as Governorship Aspirants would have to contest in the forthcoming Governorship primaries.

“The process for choosing candidates, whether Presidential, Governorship and State Assembly as ratified by National Working Committee, NWC, does not recognize adoption. If people are speculating who the leader (Amaechi) would support, he has always made it clear that he would support somebody but whoever he would support has not been made known “.

Amaechi had always made it clear before those who do not agree with him have rights to express it obviously during the primaries.

Asita O. Asita in his reaction has described the choice of Tonye Dele Cole, a Kalabari, Riverine and big player in Oil and Gas industry falls into the desire of APC to shift power to the Riverine part of the state. From 1999 to date, that is : Dr Peter Odili, Celestine Omehia, Chibuike Amaechi and Nyesom Wike who will complete 20 years for the Upland.

However, Senator Magnus Abe, who represents Rivers South East, Senatorial district from Ogoniland who had declared his ambition for the position has argued that since the state was created 57years ago, no Ogoni has been Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker of the State Assembly or the Chief Judge of the state.

Abe and his supporters created a parallel APC secretariat by Waterlines Junction on Port-Harcourt/Aba Expressway about a kilometer away from the other Secretariat.

Below is Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside’s full statement.

UNITY TO TRIUMPH – DAP

Dear Compatriots,

Yesterday our leader, Rt. Hon C R Amaechi, whom we all subscribe to his leadership made a decision of whom we should back for the office of the Governor of Rivers State in 2019. The lot fell on my friend and brother in Christ, Tonye Dele 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 in the leadership meeting. I thus stand by the decision on TDC.

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

The decision by the Leader has been meet 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 5 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 TDC. 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 CRA and ensure total victory for our party.