Rivers State Governor Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his Wife Dame Judith have received with shock and disbelief the death of the Former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry. Who died on Friday Morning in Hospital at abroad.
Harry was the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State legislature while Amaechi was Speaker for the eight years of the Peter Odili administration. Tonye Harry then took over from Amaechi as Speaker for the first four years of the Amaechi administration.
Governor Amaechi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary David Iyofor described Harry’s represent Degema constituency death as deeply shocking and traumatic for him. He recalled with nostalgia and fond memories the life and times of Tonye Harry.
“ I am still traumatize by the sad news of the death of Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry. I still find it impossible to come to terms that Tonye is no more. I was with him, by his hospital bed shortly after he fell ill and everyone was very hopeful that he was going to come out of the health crisis, stronger and better. Sadly, he couldn’t make it but God knows best.”
“Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry will be dearly missed. He was a thorough and distinguished legislator, an astute politician who believed that politics and public office should be about service to the people. Over the years, he worked very hard and diligently to make Rivers State a better place. His contributions to the legislative development of the State was indeed enormous. Over the years, we worked together, very closely; he was a friend and brother that will be dearly missed. He has left a vacuum that will be very difficult to fill.”
“He left behind a loving wife and wonderful family that will really miss him. But God knows best. I pray God Almighty to give them the strength and fortitude to bear this great loss. ”
On her parts, Wife of the governor Dame Judith Amaechi described the late Lawmaker as an embodiment of friendship and a lawmaker per excellence who had distinguished himself and provided quality representation in the state.
Governor Amaechi’s wife who went memory lane said Hon. Tonye Harry believes in charitable courses and contributed so much in uplifting the welfare of less-privileged persons.
According to her, “I remember how Hon. Harry supported the women and youth employment scheme I initiated as the wife of the then Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly and also supported my advocacy for the domestication of the child rights act as well as supported our effort to promote the early child education and mass literacy programme.
The governor’s wife added that the lawmaker who represented Degema Constituency supported her husband the Governor of the State in his quest to reclaim his mandate when many trusted persons betrayed him. According to her not only did he lent support, he also held fort at the State Assembly despite pressure on many ends to betray him and still supported him up till date.
