Tonye Princewill: An Ambassador of Goodwill
If there is a man who meant well for Nigeria in Rivers State, then
Prince Tonye Princewill is the man. He is a man of goodwill. Since he
came back to Nigeria from Europe where he was not doing badly, following
his political ambition to attain the exalted seat of the governor of
Rivers State in the 2007 elections under the umbrella of Action
congress, he has not rested. He is always ‘fighting’ to better the lots
of Nigerians, Rivers people in particular. On behalf of the State he
brought the Silver Bird Group, a private entertainment outfit in Nigeria
to partner with the Rivers State Government. This resulted in the
signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), for the construction of
a Multi-Purpose Entertainment Park in Port Harcourt. This worth about
N20 billion on 4th December, 2007. This project is expected to transform
the area around the Isaac Boro Park and the Cultural Centre to a world
class Multi-Purpose Entertainment Park and the State to a true modern
Garden city. The project will have a shopping mall, Conference Centre, a 5-star
hotel, an amusement park and a large parking space for 1,000 cars and
also promote tourism in the State. Wonderful!
This project apart from creating the first modern tourism centre in the
State is estimated to create over one thousand jobs for Rivers youths when
completed. The over 20 Billion Naira private initiative is to be executed
with 85% labour and material contents provided by the people of the State.
During the Xmass festival, while many people were enjoying the Christmas
break with their families, TP as his associates and admirers fondly call
Tonye Princewil, was on tour of European countries imploring and luring
established Investors to Rivers State.
That could be why Franklin D. Roosevelt might have the likes of Tonye
Princewill, the sensational AC Leader in Rivers State in mind when he
wrote: "The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the
abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for
those who have little."
Holding tenaciously to this eternal verity, Princewill who turned 39 by
4th January 2008 believes that a leader should be a public servant who
strives unrelentingly to put smiles on the faces of his followers
without placing undue emphasis on their
social status.
At the age of 39, Tonye Princewill became the youngest out of the 28
persons saddled with the responsibility of fashioning out the economic
policy of the new Rivers State. The principal of good governance, Prof
Nimi Briggs, headed this. To demonstrate that Princewill did not join
Amaechi for lack of what else to do; he enumerated his blueprint on how
he intends to assist the Amaechi administration to move the State
forward.
Hear Princewill: “I will be centrally concerned with promoting and
engaging on peace, stability and unity initiatives and putting much
energies in addressing key issues of human capital development in the
State. To achieve this I intend to assist the administration in
executing and providing people orientated projects and basic amenities
to alleviate the suffering of the down trodden masses of the people of
Rivers State; employing and empowering the youths and erasing all forms
of youths restiveness and militancy in the State and removing the
attention of the Government from projects that can be better handled by
the private sector”.
Not only that, on 5th November, 2007 Princewill added another feather to his
cap when he paid a historical visit to the father of modern democracy in
Nigeria and The former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar at his country home
Ganye in Adamawa State. Princewill briefed Atiku that, the recent Supreme
Court judgment that ousted Governor Celestine Omehia’s administration from
office and the reinstatement of Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as the new
Governor of Rivers State vis-à-vis the role of Action Congress in the new
dispensation in the State.
The Leadership of Action Congress of both Adamawa State and Rivers State
accompanied Tonye Princewill to the visit. Princewill described those that
accompanied him stoical.
Hear Him: “They are fighters of repute, people of character and
individuals who do not know the meaning of the word intimidation. If not
for the grace of the Almighty each and every one of them before you here
today would be no more as they have each looked death in the eye on at
least one occasion in the very recent past for the sake of our cause,
our children and the defense of our democracy. Standing up to the evil.”
The National leader of AC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in his remarks urged
younger politicians such as Princewill to remain consistent and be
prepared to face challenges, as no success was possible without hard work
and perseverance. He commended Princewill for his courage and endurance in
the face of injustices that characterized the last election in his state,
which he was sure that AC won.
By Odimegwu Onwumere
Onwumere, a poet and author, is of Nigeria4BetterRule, Rivers State.
(+2348032552855).
Odimegwu Onwumere is a vibrant prolific author and poet, writes from
Oyigbo, Rivers , Nigeria.