Frontline Rivers State politician, Prince Tonye Princewill, has rated President Goodluck Jonathan as being better than former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and others who contested against Dr. Jonathan in last year’s presidential ballot.

He made the rating while defending his decision to campaign for Jonathan in the said election after initially supporting Alhaji Atiku Abubakar during the search for the presidential candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic party (PDP).

Buhari, who was the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), has hinted that he may run again in 2015 while Jonathan has remained mum despite widespread belief that he may seek a second term.

“He defended why he supported Atiku before the PDP primaries and later campaigned for President Jonathan when he became the PDP Flag-Bearer as he was better than both General Buhari and other Flag-bearers of other political parties during the 2011 presidential election,” said one of Prince Tonye’s media aides, Faustinus Nwaorgu, in a statement made available to News Express.

Nwaorgu said Prince Tonye mounted the defence while speaking on a Silverbird TV network programme documentary entitled Man, Mentor, Maverick.

“In the documentary, he highlighted his relationship with, Atiku Abubakar, Gov. Amaechi, Asiwaju (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) and (Timi) Alaibe whom he described as the politicians who thought some basic elements of politics and played key roles in shaping him to be whoever he is today,” Nwaorgu added.

The statement also spoke of how Princewill in the documentary aired Thursday from 9pm Nigerian time dismissed insinuations that his philanthropic activities have a political undertone.

“The documentary,” according to Nwaorgu, “told the story of the life and activities of Prince Tonye, showcasing his massive philanthropic activities that include his interventions in lifting the lives of orphans, empowerment of both women and youths and assistance to various organisations and clubs, the latest of which involved providing relief materials for flood victims in Rivers State.

“ ‘It is not for political reasons,’ said the Kalabari Prince while dismissing claims by critics that his generosity is meant to soften the ground for his eventual entry into the River State gubernatorial race in the run-up to the next political dispensation. ‘My passion to help in uplifting the standard of living of our people instead is the driving force,’ he added.

“He promised not to relent in his desire to assist people in dare need no matter the part of the world they may come from. The Prince who donated over N130M through the Melody Shelters last year to stage the first Orphanage Dancing Competition in Nigeria promised to do more in 2013. ‘I hope to improve on what I donated to the Orphanage Homes in the country by this year,’ the Prince enthused.”

Princewill, who clocked 44 on January 4, 2013, was the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress in 2007 in Rivers State. Presently of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, his Princewill Political Associates (PPA) is making waves across the state, leading some to conclude that he may be eyeing the Government House once more.

•Photo: Prince Tonye Princewill.

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