2019: Amaechi Endorses Tonye Cole as APC Rivers Guber Candidate

Group roots for neutral candidate

Minister of Transportation and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, RT. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has endorsed Mr. Tonye Cole as the party’s standard bearer in the 2019 governorship elections.

This came as an advocacy group within the state chapter of the party, Rivers Unity House, called on the party to field a “neutral person” if it hoped to wrest power from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

At a meeting of leaders of the APC in the state held Thursday night, Amaechi said considering the numerous interests in the party, it was necessary to choose a candidate who could unite the various interests and ensure victory for the party in 2019.

A statement issued by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Finebone, quoted Amaechi as having said after the endorsement, “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 so do.”

Reacting to the endorsement, an aspirant and Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, said he would abide by the decision of the leader of