ABUJA/Nigeria: The former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has expressed his profound sorrow at the passing of King Prof. TJT Princewill, AMACHREE XI, AMANYANABO OF Kalabari, describing it as a grievous loss not only to the traditional institution in the country but to humanity and the academic community as well.
Dr. Jonathan, who referred to the departed monarch as “a King among Kings,” reminisced about their shared history during their university days. He recalled the time when King Prof. TJT Princewill first assumed the role of a lecturer at the University of Port-Harcourt. The former President offered his condolences to the King’s family and the entire Kalabari kingdom, promising to provide his support to ensure a successful transition.
Earlier in the day, the Chairman of the Central Working Committee, Prince Tonye Princewill, led a delegation to meet with Dr. Jonathan at his office in Abuja. Princewill, himself a former student of the University of Port-Harcourt, spoke of the importance of their visit, given the stature of the former President as the highest-ranking Niger Delta son. He expressed gratitude to Dr. Jonathan for his significant role in the life of the late King during his presidency.
The Chairman of the media subcommittee, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, called upon the former President to play a crucial role in ensuring that the late King receives a dignified farewell. Inko-Tariah invoked the assistance of Dr. Jonathan, emphasizing the importance of his involvement.
During the meeting, the Co-Chairman of the Central Working Committee, Chief Dr. David Briggs, conveyed gratitude to Dr. Jonathan for the warm reception and noted the significance of individuals like him in the upcoming burial arrangements.
Similarly, Nigeria’s former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, pledged her presence at the late monarch’s funeral. The former First Lady assured the Central Working Committee of her attendance when Prince Tonye Princewill, Chief Dr. David Briggs, and Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah visited her at her Abuja residence.
“We Will Be there,” Dame Patience Jonathan affirmed, underscoring her commitment to being present at the funeral. She showered praise upon the late King, emphasizing that, as an Ijaw daughter of Okrika extraction, he was not merely a Kalabari king but also a father to all sons and daughters of the Ijaw nation. She offered her prayers for peace, unity, love, and progress in the Ijaw nation and Nigeria as a whole.
In his remarks, Prince Tonye Princewill, the chairman of the burial committee and the only child of the late King, briefed Mrs. Jonathan on the upcoming transition rites and extended a heartfelt invitation for her to grace the burial in person, alongside her women.
In closing, the co-chairman of the committee, Chief David Briggs, expressed gratitude to Mrs. Jonathan for her warm reception and hospitality. The support and attendance of these esteemed figures serve as a testament to the profound impact King Prof. TJT Princewill had on the lives and hearts of those he touched.
