Our Children must return the gun – Amaechi
The governor of Rivers State, Rt. Honourable Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has enjoined parents to ask the wards to turn in their arms if the want to move their community forward.
The executive governor who was speaking on the occasion of the 80th birthday celebration of His Majesty, King, Professor T.J.T Princewill, Amachree XI, Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom and the unveiling of King J.T. Princewill Statue expressed dismay over the activities of youths who stop development projects in the area by demanding for outrageous illegal levy known in Port Harcourt as “marching ground”, and appealed to His Majesty to prevail upon his subjects who constitute anti-development forces to desist from such acts or risk being jailed for 3 years, if found guilty of violating what he called “Ikwere Law”
Governor Amaechi who want the Kalabari people to admit that mistakes have been made in the past, especially in the abandonment of contracts duly awarded to their natives, remembered and regretted with nostalgia the murder of his friend in Buguma who was the Personal Assistant (PA) to the King, called on Kalabaris to be united in order to forge ahead for their overall good.
The governor while identifying key projects embark on by his administration in Rivers state such as; building of roads, health centers and schools asked the Kalabari kingdom to provide land where the schools and health centers will be sited.
On the issue of road contruction (ring road ) in the area, Hon. Amaechi said he canceled it because there was no design to execute the project assuring that when the design has been completed and turned in he will re-award it.
To mark the end of the occasion, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, on behalf of his family and Rivers state presented Land Cruiser TLS Jeep to the king as his birthday gift.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the occasion, Alabo T.O. Graham-Douglas outlined the legacy which His Majesty, King Prof. T.J.T Princewill should bequeath on his subjects as marks his 80th sojourn on earth to wit; Kalabari unity and patriotism, development of the kingdom infrastructurally, socio-cultural rejuvenation industrialization and commercialization through the resuscitation of Kalabari trading expertise amongst others.
The occasion was graced by state executive council, members of the diplomatic corps, captains of industry, state house of assembly members, past ministers, council of traditional rulers,and cultural groups, Choral Voices of Port Harcourt who added colour to the occasion.
Nwaorgu Faustinus wrote in from Port Harcourt, Rivers State