RIVERS AC: A Fraternal Journey with Obama

We can remember that Prince Tonye TJT Princewill, the Rivers State AC leader was among those from all over the world who went to the United States of America to officially and unofficially monitor the election that saw Mr. Barak Obama as the 44th President of the USA. on December 4th, 2008. He immediately left the USA. to Nigeria, to congratulate with his friend, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, immediately the Supreme Court passed its judgment that Osunbor was not the rightful elected governor of Edo State in the 2007 elections. That Oshiomhole was.

Princewill who is a long time friend of Obama could not wait behind during the swearing-in of Obama on the 20th of January 2008. Princewill left Nigeria again to the USA. in company of the State Chairman of AC, Hon. Suage Badey. They left Nigeria through Lagos to Washington DC to witness the official inauguration of Senator Barak

Obama.
Princewill made the following comments before boarding the plane: "If we are to take over the wheel of leadership of this country there is need of being rooted in the democratic culture and norms and at the moment. USA stands as the fountain of that democratic culture. With the monumental event like the inauguration of Senator Obama as the next President of the USA, no true democrat in any part of the world will be outside America within this week. To me, this is the greatest democratic miracle of our generation and as I was part of the epochal election of this great African/American; I wish to be part of the people that will witness his inauguration. I am sure that in line with the statement of Ambassador Segun Olushola during my 44th birthday lecture, he said that his generation has failed Nigeria. I will like to do everything humanly possible to ensure that my own generation does not fail our country by being embodied and rooted with the tenets of democratic norms available to me. I will also use my visit to America at this time to conclude some investment interest by some Americans who want to invest in Rivers State apart from being part of this great event of the inauguration of Obama as USA President. If Nigeria is to change, it is my generation that will make that change possible and I am ready to be a tool for that change.”

On the other hand, Princewill said that “for a better Rivers State void of using the act of militancy in presenting our grievances, our Legal Team has being instructed to within the end of this month sue the Federal Government over its blatant refusal to embark upon on any meaningful project in our State. We will use legal means instead of militancy to retrieve the sum of N45B Gov. Amechi has expended on federal projects in the State. The period of being naïve over such serious indictment of the Federal Government on its negligence of its statutory role in our affairs has passed. If we are to build the Rivers State of our dream then every kobo that belongs to the State will not only be counted for but those being kept by any group of agency of Government will be retrieved like the N45B the FG should pay the RSG. It is hard to believe that our oil is being used to develop Nigeria and for the past 20 years the Federal Government has not considered it wise to embark upon any project in Rivers State, no matter what ever excuse they want to offer that policy is not acceptable to Rivers State AC and its teeming supporters.

Finally, Princewill reiterated, “I will like to suggest that most of the party's activities in

Rivers State be played down a little in honour of one of our greatest partner in the media, Mr. John Ogbedu of Tribune Newspapers who died on 17th January, 2009. If not that I had arranged to embark upon this trip and my family is already in America awaiting my arrival before the sad news of the death of this great and patriotic Nigerian came to

me, I would have cancelled this trip. But knowing what is taking me to

America, I know the late Ogbedu will still want me to travel as my trip will fulfill part of his dream- an emancipated Nigeria. Those of us in Rivers State AC have declared a seven-day mourning for this amiable and brilliant Journalist whose input in the cause of our struggle cannot be downplayed.”

Dr. Brian Wilfred is Communication Assistant to Prince Tonye TJT Princewill. [email protected]