The news is all over town.
Minister Rotimi Amaechi wants to make Tonye Cole the next Governor of Rivers state.
And the All Progressives Congress leader in the state has taken a major step towards his objective.
Amaechi has informed APC caucus members in Rivers state of his plot.
And the chain reaction is already on.
Amaechi’s choice, Tonye Cole is one of the main men at Sahara Energy.
Tonye Cole founded the indigenous Oil firm with partners Tope Shonubi and Ade Odunsi.
Sahara Energy was accused of benefiting massively from the corruption-laden administration of Ex petroleum minister, Diezani Madueke.
Tonye Cole was alleged to be the point man in the alleged life-changing under the table deals.
The company protested any form of wrongdoing in the face of huge public interest and intense government investigation.
Amaechi’s move to make Tonye Cole governor comes after a failed bid to make the Sahara Energy boss minister.
Insiders disclosed to societynow.ng while in the People’s Democratic Party as Governor of Rivers state, Amaechi actually submitted the names of Tonye Cole and Nyesom Wike for a ministerial slot.
President Goodluck Jonathan eventually picked Wike for the position of Minister of Education.
Wike is the incumbent Governor of Rivers state and has made it a point of duty to take away Amaechi’s political relevance in River’s state.
Wike is still a member of the People’s Democratic Party while Amaechi has transformed Minister of Transportation, after helping the All Progressives Congress to take federal might from his former party.
Amaechi’s move to make Cole gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Rivers state has also dredged up old allegations against both of them.
In 2017, Tonye Princewill a Rivers state gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Labour party alleged Amaechi, as governor was doing secret businesses with Sahara Energy.
Princewill alleged sale of state assets – including power generating stations – below market value.
Socieynow.ng gathered that these allegations and others are being dredged up as news of Amaechi’s move to make Tonye Cole Rivers governor circulate.
Societynow.ng gathered that within the Rivers state All Progressives Congress, Amaechi’s backing of Tonye Cole is attracting multiple reactions.
“And the support has certainly not been tremendous, especially if you take into consideration the fact that Amaechi’s estranged ally Magnus Abe is prepared to give all it takes to become party gubernatorial candidate” societynow.ng learned.
Source: societynow
