Sahara Group of companies recently announced the resignation of one of its co-founders and an Executive Director Patrick Tonye Cole. The company disclosed this in a notice on its website.
According to the statement, he took this step following his decision to participate in his active politics.
The Board and management of The Sahara Group of Companies wishes to inform the general public and other stakeholders that one of our co-founders and Executive Director, Mr. Tonye Patrick Cole has formally informed the Board of his decision to participate in active politics.
His resignation from the all board appointments and day to day responsibilities in the Sahara group is with immediate effect.
Cole is reportedly contesting for the governorship of Rivers State.
The company also stated it was not affiliated to any political party in any of its countries of operation. The group’s corporate governance charter prohibits key management or board members from taking part in active politics, promoting or supporting any political organization or ideology.
Sahara group had its origins in the business of trading petroleum products, but has since expanded into the upstream, midstream, power and infrastructure sectors. Sahara Group has operations in over 38 countries across Africa, Asia, Middle East and Europe.
Tonye Cole was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on 11 January 1967. He is the son of former managing director of the Daily Times Newspaper and former Ambassador of Nigeria to Brazil Patrick Dele Cole
He attended Corona School, Victoria Island and later King’s College, Lagos before proceeding to King’s School, Ely, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
He is also an alumnus of the University of Lagos and Universidade de Brasilia, Brazil. An Architect, he worked in a Brazilian architectural firm Grupo Quartro SA in Goiania Brazil from 1990-92. Tonye returned to Nigeria in 1993, and was the Director of Operations EMSA S.A., a Brazilian Civil Engineering Company, before moving on to co found the Sahara group. He is married with three children.
Sahara group was founded in August 1996 by Cole alongside Ade Odunsi and Tope Shonubi. The company had its origins in the business of trading petroleum products, but has since expanded into the upstream, midstream, power and infrastructure sectors. Sahara Group has operations in over 38 countries across Africa, Asia, Middle East and Europe.
Interesting…