The stage is now clear as regards to the decision and direction All Progressive Congress-APC leadership in Rivers state is piloting the affairs of the federal ruling political party concerning the election and selection of its governorship candidate in the state. Since the struggle to upstage the incumbent Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike from Government House Port Harcourt come 2019, the Transportation Minister and ex Governor of Rivers state Rt. Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has been propagating power shift to the riverine Ijaw communities in Rivers state.
www.towncrier.ng reliably gathered that as the National Executive Committee –NEC of All Progressive Congress –APC few days ago took explicit decision on how the nomination of elective office holders will emerge from the political party. For Presidential candidate Direct primary option has been accepted while states have been given option either to adopt either Direct or indirect primaries as suitable to their peculiar states situation.
It is on the above premise that Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has finally picked the Chief executive Officer of Sahara Energy Group Tonye Cole as the Rivers state Governorship flag bearer of All Progressive Congress—APC in the 2019 General election. This Abonnema Kalabari born Tonye Cole is the son of Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole who hails from Akuku Toru local Government Area.
www.towncrier.ng investigations actually exposed the tumultuous rejection (by Chief Barrister Dumo lulu-Briggs supporters) of the choice of Tonye Cole as Rivers state APC Governorship standard bearer as against others who have been piloting the affairs of the political party since 2017 when they defected to the party. Chief Barrister Dumo Lulu-Briggs is the son of High Chief Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs one of the richest business mogul in Nigeria who owns Moni Pulo Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd and Lubriks Construction company including other companies operating in Nigeria and beyond.
Apart from Dumo Lulu-Briggs supporters, others who are supporters of Senator Magnus Ngei Abe from Ogoni ethnic nationality are also showing displeasure to the latest development allegedly coming from the aides of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who disclosed the decision of their master the Honourable Minister of Transportation that Tonye Cole remains his choice of Rivers APC governorship candidate while the running mate to Tonye may come from Ogoni area with Rt. Honourable Emma Deeyah being a probable deputy Governor already penciled down. How this decision will affect the political fortune and future of APC in Rives state is yet to be determined as the massive electoral voters from four Local Government Areas of Tai, khana, Gokana and Eleme may swing votes to the opposing political party in the Rivers state 2019 Governorship election.
In 2012 the choice of Tonye Cole as Minister of Federal Republic by the then Governor of Rivers state Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi received opposition from members of Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers state who accused him of not being an active member of the party. And in his place Nyesom Ezenwo Wike was screened by the 7th National Assembly and endorsed by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration that assigned Minister of State for Education to Wike.
One other factor that may stand against Tonye Cole is his raw business deals his companies were said to have had with the last hour of the then Governor of Rivers state in which several legacy projects were allegedly sold out to Tonye Cole business concerns at prices said to low going by international best comparable values.
On the other hand supporters of Senator Magnus Abe have been seen not to misdirect their party loyalty and allegiance to APC as the senator representing Rivers South East had vowed to remain with APC and support whosoever that will emerge as rivers state governorship candidate for the 2019 governorship election.