RSG To Name Monument After Ex-Speaker

Rivers State Government will immortalise late former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry by naming a monument in his honour.
The State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi who gave the hint last Wednesday during a Service of Songs for late Harry at the Civic Centre in Port Harcourt said before the decision would be announced, he and the current Speaker of the State House of Assembly would meet to agree on what monument to name after the late Speaker who died last month after a heart attack.
Governor Amaechi said, “we would put our heads together, myself and the Speaker and we would immortalise Tonye’s name. We would try and look at what is important. Amaechi described the late former Speaker who was also a Deputy Speaker in the House of Assembly from 1999-2007, as an administrator and attributed his success as Speaker largely to the contributions of his deputy.
“It means that at any point in time, you can rely on his sagacity; you can rely on his ability to be able to manage situations. You can rely on the fact that he was also a good administrator. I cannot claim to have been a successful Speaker without Tonye’s contributions”, Amaechi recalled.
In his tribute, Senator Magnus Abe described Harry’s sudden death as a shock to him, “this is the most difficult moment of my life. Tonye was a friend and a brother … the reality and finality of what has happened has dawned on everybody”.
Abe and Harry were colleagues at the Assembly between 1999-2003. “We were in the seventh Assembly, we were not only friends and colleagues but a family. He was not just a friend, but a brother”.
Abe said he was pained over Harry’s sudden demise, as he regretted not attending the birthday of the late former Speaker which according to him was the last social landmark in the life of Harry.
Leader of the State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd recalled how late Harry stood by him during his travails in the crisis that rocked the House, stating that the late former Speaker visited him in detention even in the court and pressed for his release.
Delivering a sermon at the event, South-South Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Felix Ekiye challenged public office holders to learn from the life of late Harry.
Rev. Ekiye said public office should be used for the betterment of society such that when one leaves or dies, the people would have good memory of one.