GOVERNOR ROTIMI CHIBUIKE AMAECHI LEADS WORLD CLASS DELEGATION TO BUGUMA AS AMANYANABO OF KALABARI KINGDOM, KING PROF TJT PRINCEWILL AMACHREE XI, CELEBRATES HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY WITH THE UNVEILING OF A STATUE IN HONOUR OF THE LATE KING JACOB TOM PRINCEWILL,
GOVERNOR ROTIMI CHIBUIKE AMAECHI LEADS WORLD CLASS DELEGATION TO BUGUMA AS AMANYANABO OF KALABARI KINGDOM, KING PROF TJT PRINCEWILL AMACHREE XI, CELEBRATES HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY WITH THE UNVEILING OF A STATUE IN HONOUR OF THE LATE KING JACOB TOM PRINCEWILL, AMACHREE VII, AMANYANABO OF KALABARI ON SATURDAY 20TH FEBRUARY, 2010
The entire Kalabari Kingdom comprising three Local Government Areas in Rivers State (Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru and Degema LGAs) will on Saturday, 20th February, 2010 converge at the Buguma Head quarters of Asari-Toru to honour the Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom, King Prof T.J.T. Princewill at the occasion of the celebration of his 80th birthday. Though his birth date falls on the 4th January, the decision to postpone the celebration was to allow it coincide with the planned unveiling of the statue in honour of his late father His Majesty, King Jacob Tom Princewill, Amachree VII by the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi on the 20th February, 2010.
Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry the Honourable Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, a kalabari Scion who incidentally is also the highest political office holder in Rivers State from the Kingdom has described the celebrant, King Prof TJT Princewill the Amanyanabo as an icon, a living legend and a rare gift the Almighty God has blessed every Kalabari indigene with. He averred that the Amanyanabo, who also had distinguished himself in his Academic career spanning over 3 decades before his ascension to the throne, had a lifestyle characterised by an uncommon humility and a commitment to excellence. These qualities according to him are worthy of emulation for not only Kalabari indigenes but every Nigerian.
The presence of the Governor at the occasion would also serve as a validation of his 1st January, 2010 appointment of the Amanyanabo as the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of the Traditional Rulers an act that was in many quarters applauded as a superb birthday gift as he turned 80th. This great and outstanding Ruler of the Kalabari people has as his son and heir apparent, the Prince of Niger Delta Politics and Leader of the Rivers State AC and Organised Opposition (FOOPP) in Rivers State Prince Tonye T.J.T Princewill.
Speaking on the upcoming celebrations, Prince Tonye Princewill commended his father for choosing to honour his grandfather. He said in doing this the role played by the previous Amanyanabo in the strategic positioning of the Kalabari kingdom in the region will be brought to the forefront. An active member of the NCNC, the late king was actively involved in the committee that led a delegation to the House of Commons in the UK to agitate for the country's independence. Prince Tonye also revealed that his grandfather was a pioneer product of Missionary education in the region and founded the Kalabari National College (KNC) the first indigenously owned secondary school in the old Rivers State, made famous for its role in shaping the lives of people of different ethnic nationalities in the region who rose to later become the key players in the agitation for Nationalism in the country.
The event billed to start by 1.00pm on the day, will be chaired by three time Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alabo T.O. Graham-Douglas and promises to be an epochal event that will be etched in the consciousness of people in time to come. Expected at the event are government dignitaries, Royal Fathers, Captains of Industry, members of the Diplomatic Corp to mention a few.
The Host of the occasion, Hon. Ojukaye Flag Amachree, Executive Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Govt. Area has promised that the event will be hitch free and devoid of any security breaches even as “..Buguma is prepared to honour a living legend and to accord our amiable and achieving Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and all our guests the rich cultural exhibition of our people come 20th February, 2010''.
Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze
Rivers State AC Publicity Secretary.