Clark mourns passing of Amanyanabo of Kalabari

Elder statesman and leader of Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, has described the death of Prof. Theophilus Jacob Tom Princewill, the Amanyanabo of Kalabari, as a great loss to the Ijaw nation, academic community and Nigeria at large.....CONTINUE READING

Clark, who spoke while receiving the deceased son, Tonye, in company of David Briggs, and Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah at his Abuja residence, described the late monarch as a perfect gentleman, imbued with dignity.

The former Minister of Information in the First Republic prayed to God to grant the deceased family and Ijaw nation the fortitude to bear the loss.

The PANDEF leader, who promised to attend the funeral billed for this month, used the opportunity to call for unity in Ijaw land, expressing hope that the deceased burial would foster greater unity among the people.

Earlier, the young Princewill said the visit was meant to formally brief the elder statesman on the funeral rites of the King.

He noted that given the status of Clark, it was only proper for the delegation to brief him in person, rather than writing a letter, and implored him to attend if circumstances permitted.

In a related development, prominent non-indigenes have also indicated interest in giving the Kalabari king a befitting farewell.

Assuring the young Princewill of their support during a courtesy visit, the Dan-Amanar of Dutse, Alhaji Nasir Danu, said the deceased monarch was not just a father to the Kalabari kingdom, but to all those who came in contact with him.

Danu, who promised that he would grace the funeral with the Emir of Dutse and his cabinet, recalled the King’s visit to Dutse in 2017, and pledged to ensure that the royal father gets a befitting farewell.

“Your father left legacies in northern Nigeria before doing the same in the south. We know him, we know his nature and we will be there to celebrate him and his life,” he said.

Similarly, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, have promised to honour the deceased king as a mark of solidarity and respect for their departed royal brother.

They both described the monarch as a perfect gentleman, whose legacies both as a lecturer and on the throne, shall remain pleasantly evergreen.

His demise was like a lethal weapon that hits him at his mid-riff, Obi Achebe, noted,

“He was both my friend and brother.” They all prayed to God to grant the deceased family, the Kalabari kingdom and people of Rivers State, the fortitude to bear the loss.

“He will be greatly missed,” the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass and first governor of old Rivers State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, stated.