OPINION

Tonye Princewill: A builder towards a progressive & prosperous Nigeria
By Odimegwu Onwumere

In his direction that Ndigbo should not be deterred, no matter
whatever unfavourable conditions they have been crying about in
Nigeria, Prince Tonye Princewill, a crowned prince of the ancient
Kalabari Kingdom of Rivers State, has further shown that he is one man who is dedicated to the progressiveness and prosperity of Nigeria. He knows that Ndigbo as a people have great love for nation-building and that they have maintained this gesture from their early history.

Princewill made his feelings known during the recent Igbo Day
Celebrations in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. Seemingly
represented by his legal counsel, Barrister Soalabo West, Princewill
was of the view that Ndigbo have a strong wand for nation development
and advocated other tribes in the country to emulate the Igbo people.

Princewill is well known for his words of peace in crisis situations
and wherever there was conflict. This is much evident in his actions
during the time that some youths in the Niger Delta region took up
arms and were fighting for the control of the crude oil deposits on
their soil. Princewill was one man who took the risk of going to the
grooves where the irate youths took as their home to advise them that
there was a better way to talk to the government and get a listening
ear and not by taking to illegality. Princewill meant that the
incensed youths should eschew violence and imbibe peace through
dialogue in their efforts.

Many people wondered about his safety then, even when notable men were
running away from the sight of the very angry youths. But Princewill
did not mind whether his life was at stake or not. He did not also
care whether the fuming youths touched his family or not; all that he
wanted was peace, which he has always believed, is the panacea to the
progressiveness and prosperity of Nigeria.

Tonye Princewill has not only talked to the Igbo, he has also
encouraged constructive enlightenment for peoples of different ethnic
backgrounds. He believes that Nigerians must be saved in Nigeria and
vis-à-vis.
Sacrificing for a latent contemporary Nigeria, Princewill has always
conveyed a very pressing message, but especially to the youth, looking
beyond the perils of today for a greater Nigeria of tomorrow. From
1997 when he conspicuously engaged in partisan politics in Nigeria,
Princewill has initiated obvious ideas bequeathing of one for whom the
love of his country comes first before other pressing priorities. In
Rivers State, he has exhibited grand destiny in not only politics but
also in giving advice about economic policies and positive sundries.

These he does without imposing his knowledge on anybody for the
benefit of his mutual rapports with humanity at large. Every country
has it great men, and Princewill happens to be one coming from Rivers
State. Crisis is never in his diary, and he avoids beating traffic
unlike many in his affluent and connected position.

To a very great extent, Princewill has helped to assemble and
electrify innovative emotions in Nigeria through his numerous
inspirational texts and other intelligentsia’s ways of struggling for
the betterment of Nigeria for political freedom embedded in simple
solutions.

Nigeria, somewhat, is not a place where you have persons with the
genuine mindset of hatching new innovations for the progressiveness
and prosperity of the country, but Princewill is shattering that
illusion with his practical and egalitarian political nomenclature and
love for the people irrespective of class or creed.

Through the crucial political torrents in the country, it can be
discerned that light and hope are being gradually restored through the
likes of Princewill, no matter the odds. This is not a fairy tale. In
Rivers State, he has helped to transform the character of the state,
and the residents are always applauding him. It is not simple, but
only Princewill knows how to handle crisis and advocate peace.

The way in which Princewill handles matters of such magnanimity is a
marvel in itself; he believes that the development of Nigeria must
start from the development of the individuals in the country, whom he
has always embraced and connected with, through his perspective about
the re-birth of our country. He is probably doing this out of
inevitability.

As a politician with a ‘new mentality’ he has shown that Nigeria
should eschew parochial ways of politicking to perpetuity. He hates
seeing Nigerians still fighting for their independence about what to
eat, drink, for shelter and much more. This is intolerable to him. He
does not like seeing Nigerians wallowing with unending burdens with
their survival also threatened by any negative powers in Nigeria who
have refused to help in abating the suffering of the masses.

It is time Nigeria, as a whole, put things in perspective, not just in
order to impress the international community, but in order to show
real progress and to impress Nigerians. Princewill has always been
crying against the perils that people go through in Nigeria, with the
opinion that unless the country retains commitment cum confidence,
then the resolve for a better Nigeria might be very far.

With his belief in hope for our country, Princewill has always told
Nigerians to imbibe peace and hope into their traditions, irrespective
of tribe and, he sees Nigeria as a country with windows that if well
furnished, can provide the people with better opportunities in life
and better living standards. It is not only the Igbo people that he
has advised to continue to love Nigeria and continue in
nation-building, but also every other tribe in the country.