“The former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has described the transition of King Prof. TJT Princewill Amachree XI, Amanyanabo of Kalabari, as not just a loss to the traditional institution in the country but a loss to humanity and the academic community.
The former President, who described the transiting Monarch as a King among Kings, recalled his university school days’ experience when the king was first posted to the University of Port-Harcourt as a lecturer.
Jonathan made the remarks over the weekend when the Chairman of the Central Working Committee for the burial of the late Monarch, Prince Tonye Princewill, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Prince Princewill, who incidentally is the biological son and only child of the late King, noted that the former President was the highest-ranking Niger Delta son and a former student of the University of Port-Harcourt. He said, ‘The visit was imperative as letters shall not suffice.’ He thanked Dr. Jonathan for the role played in the life of the king as a president.
Dr. Jonathan, who sympathized with the family of the king and the entire Kalabari kingdom, promised his assistance in ensuring the successful transition of the king.
In a separate condolence letter addressed to Princewill, the former President said the late Monarch, who will be laid to rest next month, lived an incredibly active and exemplary life as an academic and first-class traditional ruler.
‘He was a gift and a tremendous blessing to the Ijaw nation. He will be fondly remembered for his contribution to national development throughout his career in academia, where he occupied several strategic positions in which he excelled. His achievements earned him a place in the history of our great country and the award of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2011.
‘We hope that your family and the entire Kalabari kingdom will take solace in the fact that he committed his time to serving God, promoting peace, and development in the society. His legacies should be preserved by all those who knew and loved him.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with you all as he is laid to rest. May his soul rest in God’s eternal peace.’
Former First Lady, Dame Jonathan, who also promised to grace the occasion of the burial of the late Amanyanabo of the Kalabari Kingdom, pointed out that as an Ijaw daughter of Okrika extraction, the Kalabari monarch was not just a Kalabari king but also her father and a father to all sons and daughters of the Ijaw nation. She prayed for peace, unity, love, and progress in the Ijaw nation and Nigeria at large.”
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