Politics
Tonye Harry, Living Even In Death
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.
Operating under the umbrella of the Coalition of Civil Society Network, the group described the ruling delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu as unfair and contrary to the spirit of democracy, urging the judiciary to consider the will of the people in its final determination of the matter.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Thursday, October 30, sacked Gummi for defecting from the PDP, which sponsored his election, to the APC.
In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu held that it was morally wrong for a politician to transfer votes from one political party to another, stating that “political prostitution must not be rewarded.”
He declared that voters elect candidates based on the manifestos and ideals of their political parties. Therefore, it was both legally and morally unacceptable for an elected official to abandon that platform without relinquishing the mandate.
The court also restrained the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, from recognising Hon. Gummi as a member of the House, and ordered him to refund all salaries and allowances received from October 30, 2024, to the date of judgment.
Justice Egwuatu further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 30 days to fill the vacant seat.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024, was filed by the PDP and its Zamfara State chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, who argued that Hon. Gummi’s defection violated Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as there was no division within the PDP to justify his action.
But convener of the coalition, Lukman Muhammad, who addressed journalists at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, said Hon. Gummi’s defection was a direct result of the unresolved internal crisis within the PDP, which, according to him, crippled the lawmaker’s ability to effectively represent his constituents.
He said: “We believe the court’s decision was unjust and failed to consider the circumstances surrounding Hon. Gummi’s defection. Gummi’s decision to join the APC was necessitated by the unresolved internal crisis within the PDP, which hindered his ability to effectively represent his constituents.
“We affirm that Hon. Gummi’s right to choose his political affiliation is protected by the Constitution and should be respected. We stand for democracy and the rule of law, while also urging the judiciary to consider the will of the people and the greater good”.
He urged Justice Egwuatu to review the judgment, stressing that the ruling could set a dangerous precedent that undermines the principle of fair representation and the rights of elected officials.
The coalition further noted that the judgment has broader implications for Nigeria’s democratic process, as it raises questions about the extent to which lawmakers can exercise their constitutional freedom of association without fear of losing their mandate.
The parties stated that the APC was on the verge of collapse following the recent wave of defections from opposition parties into its ranks.
In separate interviews with The Tide source, spokespersons for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) —Debo Ologunagba, Oladipo Johnson, and Mark Adebayo – respectively, said an implosion was imminent in the APC.
But the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, stated that recent defections to the party were voluntary and inspired by the ruling party’s achievements, not through coercion. He added that the APC was well-structured, capable of managing its internal affairs effectively, and therefore would not experience any internal crisis.
In recent months, the ruling APC has continued to receive several high-profile politicians from opposition parties, particularly the PDP. Among those who have joined the APC are Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and the PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa.
Most recently, members of the Enugu State Executive Council defected to the APC, a move followed by Governor Peter Mbah’s official declaration for the ruling party on October 14 in Enugu.
On October 15, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, announced his resignation from the PDP. Although he has yet to join another party, speculation is rife that he is on his way to the APC.
Similarly, Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, confirmed last Wednesday that he would be joining the APC.
Numerous other politicians, including several lawmakers, have also abandoned their parties to align with the ruling APC.
In his reaction, Hon. Ologunagba predicted an imminent crisis within the APC, expressing confidence that those who defected would eventually return to the PDP.
He stated, “This is the major political party (PDP), and it is the only democratic party in the country. It has structures cutting across all the local governments, all the wards, and of course all the states. In every home, there are members of the PDP, and that is why the APC are jittery, and that is why they are coercing our members, using state resources and state agencies to force members of opposition parties to join the ruling party.
“But in all this, we are sure and confident that very soon, the APC will implode because it is a multipurpose political vehicle that is not going to last. It is going to implode.
“Many Nigerians will see through it and know that the party is not a political party that protects the interests of the citizens. So, they are going to leave the party and move to the major political party, which is the PDP. We are optimistic that before 2027, many Nigerians will join us because this is the truly democratic party and the only party that is out there to protect their interests.”
On his part, Mr Johnson of the NNPP lamented that the wave of defections posed a serious threat to the country’s democracy.
Mr Johnson said, “This is bad for democracy. For our type of democracy, it is important to have a proper and effective opposition. Already, we’ve seen a blurring of lines between the legislature and the executive; some would even say the judiciary. I hope not. I think many people are observing the trend and are unhappy. However, we need to be a bit more patient and see what happens soon.
“When the PDP was in power for 16 years, it was the party many people rushed into. Over time, it imploded, and many of those who joined it turned against it. So, I see that happening to the ruling APC. Definitely. This is because of the nature of Nigerian politicians; many are driven by personal interests. I always say that Nigeria can never truly be a one-party state. Even if only one party exists, it will become factionalised, with different interests and power blocs. Those pushing the country toward a one-party system may not have studied Nigeria’s political history carefully.”
In his remarks, CUPP’s Adebayo stated that the pattern of defections among politicians, particularly governors and lawmakers, was a deliberate strategy by the ruling party to transform the country into a one-party state.
Mr Adebayo said, “It is not accidental; it is a deliberate and strategic effort to entrench a one-party dictatorship. Whether these defections are forced or coerced, one thing is clear: it is an intentional action driven by the ruling party, particularly the President.
“This development is unhealthy for our democracy. It is shameful and stands against everything democratic principles represent. It is inimical to the growth and development of Nigeria as a democratic nation and poses a grave threat to our political stability.
“The implosion of the APC will come before or once it loses power. Most Nigerian politicians lack ideological grounding or principles; their loyalty lies only with the party in power. Political affiliation is tied to ideology and conviction, not convenience. However, the ideology of most politicians is simply the ruling party. If tomorrow the ADC, Labour Party, or SDP wins the presidency, many of these same politicians will abandon the APC overnight. They have no shame, no conviction, and no conscience. Their only motivation is proximity to power.”
In response, Mr Ibrahim of the APC maintained the APC would not face any internal crisis, asserting that it has the capacity to effectively manage its affairs, unlike the opposition.
He stated, “The fact that the opposition are not organised and they cannot organise primaries, neither can they manage their parties, does not mean we are on the same boat with them. Our party, the APC, has been conducting primaries successfully and rancor-free.
“So, the fact that they don’t know how to manage their party does not mean that is the way we run our own party. The APC does not coerce anyone to join. Those joining are doing so willingly because of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope achievements. Our party is fully prepared. It’s not going to implode; it’s not going to have any issues similar to the issues they have been having.”
Senator Ndume, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, accused both the executive and legislative arms of complacency, saying their failure to proactively engage the United States government on the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria led to the development.
The senator recalled that he had earlier sponsored a motion in the Senate on “Christian genocide” in the country. The motion, he said, led to resolutions mandating the Nigerian government to engage the U.S. with verified facts and figures.
President Trump, last Friday, announced the designation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over alleged persecution of Christians.
President Trump made the announcement via a post on his Truth Social platform, which was also shared on the official White House X handle.
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” President Trump wrote.
But the Nigerian government swiftly rejected the claims, insisting that President Trump’s assessment did not reflect the true situation in the country.
However, Senator Ndume accused the President Tinubu’s administration and the Senate of treating the allegation raised by US lawmaker, Riley Moore, with complacency, prior to President Trump’s declaration, and urged the federal government to take urgent steps to engage the US government with facts and figures on the activities of terrorists organisations which, he noted, were blind to faith.
“I have alerted the government, I even moved a motion. Nigeria is a sovereign state, it isn’t about what the United States can do to us, but about the misconception and the ripple effects of classifying us as a country of concern.
“We should engage the American government by presenting facts and figures. By engaging the US government, we should demand that they hear the other side of the story from the Nigerian government and the Muslim community. Muslims have been killed too. The genocide isn’t against Christians but Nigerians generally,” he said.
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