THE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in
Rivers State, Pastor Tonye Cole, has described as political the
state government’s termination of the sale of state-owned power
plants to subsidiaries of Sahara Energy Group.
Cole, who spoke in Port Harcourt on Monday, also cautioned that
the action of the state government could scare investors away from
the state.
But the State Government said the APC governorship candidate
should search his conscience and also go to court if he (Cole) felt
that its decision ran contrary to the law.
Recall that the State Executive Council had revoked the sale of
70 percent equity of the state-owned power plants held by First
Independent Power Limited in Omoku, Trans-Amadi, Afam and Eleme Gas
Turbines to NG Power-HPS Limited during the immediate past
administration of Rotimi Amaechi.
Cole explained that since he had resigned from Sahara Energy
Group in September 2018, he would not be able to react officially,
adding that he was not sure if the firm had reacted to the
revocation of the sales of the power plants.
He said, “The contract they are talking about are employing
people here in Rivers State. It is providing basic services and
dealing with things in this economy. It was done properly under the
tenets of the law.
“So, what happened a few days ago, smacks of politics, all
politics left right and center and it is sad. The white man says
you don’t cut your nose to spite your face.
“On the day I decided I was joining politics, I withdrew myself,
signed necessary documents, removed myself from Sahara, removed all
my shares, signed off everything and left.
“I left Sahara on the 1st of September (2018). I don’t take any
decision or do anything with the company. I left completely because
it is a totally different entity.”
But the Rivers State Government maintained that its action was
based on the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry
that probed the sale of the assets owned by state government.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Emma Okah,
said Cole was free to go court.
“The Rivers State Government is under an obligation to protect
the interest of the people of the state,” Okah said.
Like this:
Like Loading…