Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has received with shock and disbelief the death of the former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, David Iyofor, Governor Amaechi described Harry’s death as deeply shocking and traumatic for him, recalling with nostalgia and fond memories the life and times of Tonye Harry.
“I am still traumatized by the sad news of the death of Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry. I still find it impossible to come to terms that Tonye is no more. I was with him, by his hospital bed shortly after he fell ill, and everyone was very hopeful that he was going to come out of the health crisis, stronger and better. Sadly, he couldn’t make it but God knows best,” the governor said.
“Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry will be dearly missed. He was a thorough and distinguished legislator, an astute politician who believed that politics and public office should be about service to the people. Over the years, he worked very hard and diligently to make Rivers State a better place. His contributions to the legislative development of the state were indeed enormous. We worked together, very closely; he was a friend and brother that will be dearly missed. He has left a vacuum that will be very difficult to fill,” Amaechi added.
“He left behind a loving wife and wonderful family that will really miss him. But God knows best. I pray God Almighty to give them the strength and fortitude to bear this great loss.”
Harry was the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State legislature while Amaechi was Speaker for the eight years of the Dr Peter Odili administration.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, said that the death of former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry, has robbed the state and nation of an erudite politician par excellence whose contributions to the growth of democracy cannot be quantified.
Engr. Ikuru was reacting to the news of the demise of the late Speaker and lawmaker who was representing Degema Constituency in the state House of Assembly.
“The news of the death of my friend and brother, Tonye Harry, came to me as a shock. I feel bad about what has happened. I feel bad that we have lost a gentleman who has not only helped to raise the benchmark of legislative business but also added great value to our democracy. He served us, as a state, well and helped in no small measure to stabilize the polity,” Ikuru said.
The deputy governor prayed for the repose of his soul, urging his bereaved family to take solace in the fact that he served well as a father, politician and leader.
Similarly, the Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe has described the demise of Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry as a great shock and a devastating tragedy.
Rt. Hon. Harry, a one-time Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly was Deputy Speaker while Senator Abe was Minority Leader during the Fourth Assembly.
Abe said, “Tonye was a methodical lawmaker, reliable friend, brother, team player and an astute politician whose wealth of experience furthered the stabilization of the Fourth Assembly” and contributed immensely to the development of Rivers State.
The chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), who disclosed that he was horrified by the news, stated that the tragedy was a great loss to the state, country and democracy.
“Tonye left us at the time his country, family and beloved people of Degema Constituency needed him most”.
Abe offered deepest condolences on behalf of his family and the South-East Senatorial district to the government and people of Rivers State and the deceased family, praying God to grant them the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Hon. Ibigoni Daddy Pokima has described the death of the former Speaker and member representing Degema Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly,  Rt. Hon. Tonye Ezekiel Harry as a rude shock and huge loss to the state and the nation.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rev. Success Ekine, Hon Pokima described Rt. Hon. Harry as a caring father, frontline legislator, and a leader-par-excellence, stressing that his demise at this critical period in the political history of Rivers State was a loss too many.
His words: ”Rt Hon. Tonye  Harry’s death has created a great vacuum in the political and legislative engineering that will take a very long time to be filled in the state and the nation”.
Hon. Pokima expressed his heart felt condolence to the bereaved family and the good people of  Degema, and prayed God to grant the family he left behind, especially his wife, Barrister Sotonye Harry and the children, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
However, Hon. Pokima has also declared a week-long mourning in the area from today in honour of the late political leader.