‘Why We Chose Rivers For Miss ECOWAS’

The President of ECOWAS, Mohammad Ibn Chambers says Rivers State was deliberately chosen to host the Miss ECOWAS Beauty Pageant to show that contrary to media reports and negative perceptions, the state is peaceful.

Mr. Chambers dropped the hint yesterday when he led the organisers and contestants in the Beauty Pageant, on a courtesy visit to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi at Government House, Port Harcourt.

The ECOWAS President noted that Rivers State apart from being peaceful is making appreciable progress and huge strides that would not only be to the benefit of the state and Nigeria, but to the West African sub-region and the entire African Continent.

While acknowledging the dynamic leadership role of Governor Amaechi in the past two years, he explained that the hosting of the second Miss ECOWAS Beauty Pageant would not have been possible without the personal commitment of Governor Amaechi.

He said all ECOWAS member states, except two, are represented by young ladies who are not only here to show their outer beauty but their inner character and determination to be an example for all the youths in the region, and to build a future of peace, dialogue, understanding and regional integration.

Mr. Chambers expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Rivers State for hosting the first edition of the event in Port Harcourt last year and the second edition this year.

He stated that two prominent musicians from the continent, Mr Jimmy Cliff and Alpha Blonde, have been slated for Awards this year for their pioneering role in music, particularly in Reggae, which has an African root.

Responding, the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi thanked the President of ECOWAS for the privilege of hosting the event as he explained that it is not all about money, if not there could have been many other people to host, but it was about the relationship between the state and the leadership of ECOWAS.

Governor Amaechi who recalled one of the popular songs of Jimmy Cliff, “House of Exile” acknowledged his work and those of other black reggae musicians whom he said used music as a tool to struggle to make every country in Africa gain political independence.

He said before now, music had meaning, but now, musicians play because people want to dance, pointing out that one interesting thing about Raggae is that it originated from Africa.

In their separate speeches, Jimmy Cliff and another music icon, Alfa Blonde, who spoke in French, said they are highly honoured to be in Rivers State for what they described as an historic event.