Politics

Tonye Harry, Living Even In Death

Published

12 years ago

October 14, 2013

Cross section of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on a condolence visit to the family of their former Speaker, Late Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry, last Wednesday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga.

Rt Hon. Tonye Harry will
be dearly missed. He was a thorough and distinguished legislator, an astute politician who believes 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.”
These were the words of the Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, when he paid a condolence visit to the wife and family of the late lawmaker last Tuesday.
On his part, the Deputy Governor of the state, Engr. Tele Ikuru, has this to say: “The death of Tonye Harry has robbed the state and nation of an erudite politician par excellence, whose contributions to the growth of democracy cannot be quantified.”
Also, Senator Magnus Abe described him as “a methodical lawmaker, reliable friend, brother, team player and an astute politician whose wealth of experience furthered the stabilisation of the fourth Assembly, and contributed immensely to the development of Rivers State.”
The Senator served as the Minority Leader of the Fourth Assembly when the late Harry was Deputy Speaker and the incumbent Governor was the Speaker.
The encomiums on the late former speaker has not ceased . In fact, from all indications, they will not cease for a long time, even after he has been laid to rest in his final abode, such is the life of this great Harry’s Town born Rivers lawmaker who seemed to have touched so many lives in virtually everywhere he sojourned.
Former United States of America President, Franklin D. Roosevelt once said “the test of our progress (as a nation) is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have little .” These words seem to be at the back of Tonye Harry’s mind in what could be termed his political adventure.
Right from his days as an Accountant in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, from where he joined politics and was elected as member of the Assembly, representing Degema Constituency in 1999, he had showed such commitment to the welfare of others that made him the only of his peers.
It could be said that it was the same trait that endeared him to his colleagues in the Hallowed Chambers of the Fourth Assembly and made them elect him Deputy Speaker to Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi.
Even as a Deputy, he was an enigma of some sort, defining and redefining lawmaking in the state, while also effectively holding forth for his principal each time the need arose.
This seems to be the explanation to what Governor Amaechi said that “over the years, he worked very hard and diligently to make Rivers State a better place. His contribution to the legislative development of the state were indeed enormous.”
From his community, Harry’s Town, thorough his primary constituency (Degema Local Government Area), to the state, Harry touched so many lives, directly or indirectly, especially through various levels of empowerment initiatives.
It was, therefore, not surprising that when the tenure of Amaechi ended as Speaker in 2007, Harry it was who stepped into the big shoes of his predecessor.
From then on he seemed to be guided by what the philosopher, Bruce Barton, believed in, through his saying that “Nothng splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstance.”
He worked assiduously, not only to effectively represent his primary constituency and the Kalabaris, but also to enhance good governance in the state with Rt. Hon. Chibuike at the helm of affairs as Governor. Though continuity in governance is widely believed to be alien, in Nigeria, Rt. Hon Tonye Harry, continued from the standard set by his predecessor in the legislative arm of government, and improved on it.
Through the matured leadership of the state House of Assembly by the late Harry, the House was able to create a cordial relationship between the legislative and executive arms of government in the state to the envy of other states in the federation.
As a demonstration of his uncommon leadership traits and impliedly his acceptance as a world leader, he was made the chairman of speakers of parliaments in all the commonwealth countries during the four years he served as speaker of the Rivers Assembly.
During the same period, the state Assembly passed various landmark laws which have so far stood the test of time over two years after the expiration of his speakership.
The laws include: Rivers State Bureau of Public Preocurement law No. 4 of 2008, Rivers State Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority N0.2 of 2009; land Use prohibition of Extortion law No.5 OF 2010; and Rivers State Micro-Finance Agency Law No.6 of 2008.
Also included are” Rivers State Traffic Law No.6 of 2009, Rivers State contributory pension law in public service No.7 of 2009, and Rivers State University Education Law No.8 of 2010, All of these Laws have proved to be cardinal to the growth and maintenance of law and order in the state.
It is obviously due to these and several other innumerable achievements that the on-going encomiums have been showered on the late legislative icon. But the praises did not just come at his death, it started long before his untimely demise on Friday, October 4, 2013.
In 2010, three years into his reign as speaker, Mrs. Manuelas. George Izunwa, then Commissioner for Women Affairs in the state, described him as “an enigma, seasoned bureaucrat, level-headed fellow, unassuming but very strict to details when it comes to work.
“His commitment to the new Rivers State of which we all are trying to build under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi the Governor of our dear state, is unrivalled.”
To buttress Tonye Harry’s empowerment programmes, Chief Ngo Martyns- Yellowe, publisher of Top News, a local tabloid, said he is “a popular and compassionate leader. He has core supporters whose belief in him is unshaken and he is liked by a Large section of Degema population for his humility, generosity and generally kind disposition.
“He has empowered a lot of people across Degema LGA by providing employment for them and also has a large number of them under his payroll.”
In fact, words on the streets of Rivers State are more lamentations than cries. The rhetorical questions on the streets boils down to “who will carry us along after Tonye?.
From the foregoing it is not a surprise that the incumbent speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree, described the late iconic legislator as “a stabilising factor,” noting that he died when his presence was most needed, referring to the current crisis rocking the state Assembly.
The reasoning in several quarters currently is that if Harry could so positively affect lives, it goes to show that if his colleagues could borrow a leaf from his legacy, Rivers State will be best off and the same factor that has kept him alive, even in death, will keep all of them alive when their time comes, just as he will remain in the lives of all those he has touched directly or indirectly.

Politics

Makinde Renames Polytechnic After Late Ex-Gov

Published

1 day ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.

Politics

10 NWC Members Oppose Damagum Over National Secretary’s Reinstatement

Published

1 day ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”

Politics

Presidency Slams El-Rufai Over Tinubu Criticism …Says He Suffers From Small Man Syndrome

Published

1 day ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.