Former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience, have pledged support for the burials of the late Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom, describing the late Monarch as a King among Kings.
The former president described the transition of King Prof. TJT Princewill, Amachree XI, the 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 fondly reminisced about his university days when the transiting monarch served as a lecturer at the University of Port-Harcourt, expressing his condolences to the king’s family and the entire Kalabari kingdom. He pledged his support to facilitate a smooth transition for the king.
However, in his condolence letter he personally signed, the former president said the late monarch will be greatly remembered for his contribution to the development of the academic sector in the country.
The Nation learnt that the late Amanayanbo taught former President Jonathan at the University of Port Harcourt.
The letter sighted by our correspondent in Abuja reads “On behalf of my family, I condole with the Princewill family and entire Kalabari kingdom as your beloved father, Patriarch and Amayanabo of the Kalabari kingdom, His Serene Majesty, King Prof. Theophilus Jacob Tom Princewill, JP, CFR. Amachree XI is laid to rest.
He said: “His Majesty 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”.
In her remarks, former first Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan to Grace Kalabari assured that the Jonathan family will fully be part of the burial of the late Monarch.
She said 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 and prayed for peace, unity, love and progress in the Ijaw nation and Nigeria at large.
Earlier, the chairman of the burial committee and only child of the monarch, Prince Tonye Princewill briefes the Jonathan family on preparation for the final rights of the King while inviting them to be part of the event.
Prince Princewill said as the highest ranking Niger Delta son and a former student of the University of Port-Harcourt, the visit is imperative as letters shall not suffice and thanked Dr Jonathan for the roles played in the life of the king as a president.
In his speech, the Chairman of the media sub-committee, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, invoked the assistance of the former president in ensuring the king is given a befitting farewell.
In his vote of thanks, the Co-Chairman of the Central Working Committee, Chief Dr David Briggs, thanked Dr Jonathan for the warm reception with a reminder that the burial committee is looking up to people like him.