Tonye Harry: How Are The Mighty Fallen

There can be no better
and more suitable forum than this where our collective wisdom can be brought to bear on the challenges of ensuring good democratic governance in our country”,  Late Rt Hon Tonye Harry.
The Bible records that when David heard of the death of Saul and Jonathan, he lamented and said, “the beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places; how are the mighty fallen. Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph”.
Relatively, the same lamentation could be replicated, with the sudden and shocking demise on Friday October 4, 2013, of late Rt Hon Tonye Ezekiel Willie Harry, the beauty of the Fourth Republic legislature vis-à-vis Rivers State House of Assembly.
How are the mighty fallen. Tell it not in Rivers State, publish it not on the streets of Port Harcourt, and Degema local government area, lest the political uncircumcised rejoice.
The late Rt Hon Tonye Harry came to political limeslight in 1999 with his election into the Rivers State House of Assembly to represent Degema Constituency.
Thereafter, he was elected Deputy Speaker of the fourth and fifth Assembly, Speaker of the Sixth Assembly and chairman of the House Committee on Works of the Seventh Assembly of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Rt Hon Harry, who was an epitome of “lawmaking” in  the State Assembly was described  and called “the listening Speaker” by his colleagues in the hallowed chambers. He was a legislator par excellence.
The hallmark of leadership is service to the people.  Late  Harry undoubtedly exhibited outstanding leadership qualities when he was the Speaker even when he was a Deputy Speaker.
As a result of his purposeful leadership of the legislative arm, the Assembly recorded tremendous achievements. There is no doubt that the Rivers State  House of Assembly was then one of the most peaceful  in Nigeria. The relative peace in the state then could also be attributed to the ingenuity and leadership disposition  of the late Speaker. He carried every member of the House along in every scheme of affairs and treated them as equals.
Late Rt Hon Harry, who represented Degema Constituency in the Assembly for 14 years was arguably in good rapport with his constituents, colleagues in the Assembly and other arms of government.
It is heartwarming that under his charismatic leadership, the Rivers State House of Assembly passed several bills into law as well as resolutions all in a bid to stimulate economic growth and good governance.
For instance,  a total of 22 bills came into the Rivers State House of Assembly at the beginning of the Sixth Assembly in June 2007 under the leadership of the late  Tonye Ezekiel Willie Harry.
Some of the bills passed and assented to during his leadership as Speaker included the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment No 6 Law, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law, Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency Law (Amendment) 2008, Public Procurement 2008, Rivers State Roads Maintenance and Rehabilitation Agency 2008.
Other bills signed into law during his tenure as Speaker was the Rivers State Reserve Fund Bill, Appropriation Bill 2008, Contributory Pension Scheme for Employees in the Public Service of Rivers State, Rivers State Microfinance Agency  Bill, Supplementary Appropriation Bill, Rivers State Research, Inspection and Control Agency for the Control of AIDS Bill, Appropriation Bill 2009 and Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority Bill.
The Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of late Rt Hon Harry maintained strict financial discipline and transparency which was why there was no accusation of misappropriation of public funds or money-induced impasses in the House.
It was during his tenure as Speaker that the State House of Assembly hosted the 56th executive committee meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (African Region) which was part of the holistic resolve to push the development of the state beyond the obstacles and hurdles prevailing against the state.
In October 2007, Tonye made history as the shortest serving governor of Rivers State when the Supreme Court declared Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi  the governor of the State. Sir Celestine Omehia handed over to Tonye as acting governor in his capacity as Speaker of the State Assembly. He acted for 24 hours and handed over to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi.
Imbued with the zeal to serve the people, Late Harry was able to redefine and chart a new course of progress for the Assembly as well as Rivers State in general and his constituency in particular.
Even as there is no perfect human being on earth, the ardent critics of late Harry cannot but admit that he was courageous and resourceful, decisive and articulate.
People of diverse classes and ethnic origins have described  him as witty, charming, tactful and hard to resist.
Observers of the Rivers State House of Assembly had scored the House under the leadership of the late Tonye Harry very high and hailed the peace and cordial relationship that existed amongst the members and the executive.
It was Shakespeare who said that death is a necessary end that will come when it will come. It is also said that whom the gods love die young. Late Rt Hon Tonye Ezekiel Harry has gone the way of all flesh. Adieu Sibidabo!

Soye Young-Itiye