Chikere, Bariyana Win Diette-Spiff’s Golf Tourney

Two invited professionals, Golden Chikere and Helen Bariyana at the weekend emerged winners of the Men and Ladies Guest categories, respectively, of the one day golf tournament  to mark the 70th birthday celebration of the first Military Administrator of Rivers State, King Alfred Diette-Spiff in Port Harcourt.

Chikere hit a net score of 66 to emerge tops in the men’s category while Bariyana scored 86, net, to win the ladies.

In the Veteran’s category, former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Sir Gabriel Toby ?? 85 net score to finish runner up to Professor S.J. Cookey who scored 83.

Also, Hon. Justice Oniyangi achieved a net score of 83 to finish tops in the Special Guest’s category and was trailed by C. Ngoka, 84 and former Military Administrator of Rivers State Col. Musa Shehu, 85 net.

The men seniors’ category saw C. Anukam clinching the best gross scores with 88. Chief C.U. Okwute won the best net scores with 71 net, while Admiral O.P Finesi 75 net and Peri Okonny 76 net finished first and second runners up, respectively, for men.

In the Ladies Seniors, R. Briggs scored 75 net to overcome F. Barber, 83.

Meanwhile, S.U. Amadi and Mrs E. Ogan won the best scores for men and ladies with 76 and 91 scores, respectively.

Ekiro Akudihor hit 70 net to top the men’s net scores, while John Izim scored 71 and beat Uzo Ezennaka, also 71, to the second spot on count back.

In the Ladies net category, S.Cole-kotas recorded 69 net to beat J. Nule 70.

Earlier, in the morning session of the one-day event, Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi , who teed off the tourney  said that it was an honour for him to walk where King Diette-Spiff walked.

He expressed gratitude for the Amanyanabo  of Twon-Brass for the foundation he laid for the state when as a young naval officer at 24, he was appointed to administer the then newly created state.

“From the records, he performed and so we are happy with him and that is why we have set out to celebrate him”, said Amaechi.

Two other administrators who succeeded Diette-Spiff, Colonel Musa Komo (rtd) and Colonel Shehu Musa (rtd) also had good words for the Amanyanabo. According to Komo, “we had the good fortune of building on existing structures and were thankful that the celebrant invested resources in developing human capacity and infrastructure to make the state truly functional.  A lot of those structures are still standing today”.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee of the celebration and Chief Of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Chief Tony Okocha explained that they chose Golf to celebrate Diette-Spiff because he has been an avid golfer all his life, “and it was deemed vital to celebrate him with the sport he loves”.