THE BEGINNING OF A LION'S LIMELIGHT

Politics

Tonye Princewill shot into political limelight when, in 2007, he was elected as the gubernatorial candidate of the then Action Congress to contest for the governorship of Rivers-State in 2007 elections.Tonye's political ambition was emboldened by the then former Vice-President of Nigeria and the AC Presidential candidate in 2007 elections, Atiku Abubakar and former Governor of Lagos and National Leader of ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. His campaign attracted support, largely from within the masses of the people of River-State, whose condition Tonye campaigned to improve if elected. But he lost the election to a People's Democratic Party's (PDP) candidate, Sir Celestine Omehia,

Prince Tonye Princewill and Former Britain's Prime Minister, Tony Blair

Tonye soon began a legal battle against the newly elected governor shortly after the results were released, claiming he had evidence to prove to the electoral tribunal that the election was rigged and that he had actually won. Tonye said in a newspaper interview that Sir Celestine Omehia offered him 1.5 billion naira bribe to quash the case before the tribunal, which he rejected.
He angered his supporters at the AC when he later dropped the case at the tribunal, when a supreme court verdict sacked Sir Celestine Omehia and replaced him with another PDP candidate Rotimi Amechi .He said in a report that “we took the decision at the time that the enemy of your enemy is your friend,” noting that he was in battle with Omehia and his godfather, Dr. Peter Odili, the former governor of Rivers-State, when Amaechi was installed by the court.”
Tonye later led members of the opposition parties in Rivers-State under the banner of the Forum of Organized Opposition Political Parties (FOOPP) in the state to form unity government with Amechi's administration. Though some politicians in the state viewed Tonye's renewed interest in Amechi's government with scepticism, others thought it was necessary to bring development to Rivers-State. What actually got some of Tonye's supporters exasperated was his announcement in 2010 to return to the PDP, which they felt would leave them in the lurch of politicians within the PDP.
Tonye has since remained in PDP. And has also concentrated on his organisation and political movement, Princewill Political Associates (PPA), which he has been using to galvanize political activities and running humanitarian causes in the states. He has continued to be reticent whenever he is asked if he will be contesting for gubernatorial election in the state in the 2015 election

Public Affairs

Tonye engages with the public on issues bordering on infrastructural development, behavioural change, safety, health, academic advancement and many more through his weekly column in one of the leading Nigerian dailies, Vanguard newspaper

Tonye with victims of flooding

Following the heavy flood that ravaged many communities in Nigeria ,Tonye Princewill rose up to show benevolence to the victims of the flood by providing worthy relief materials and leading members of his Princewill Trust to distribute the materials in the affected communities.Tonye's gesture may have been the impetus behind similar demonstration of kindness by a few other well-wheeled Nigerians and politicians, many of whom have been constantly derided for being insensitive towards the plight of the needy in the country.

Personal life

Tonye Princewill is married to Rosemary, and has a daughter and a set of twin boys.

l promise to give you all day to day updated and to bring to your phones and social media more about the Prince of Rivers State, the lion of our generation...Many says, he is the next Governor of Rivers State come 2015... Michael Naku