By Olawale Lamina
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has joined family, friends and associates of Kalabaris and the entire Ijaw nation to celebrate the birthday of the Scion of the Kalabari Kingdom, Chief T.J.T Princewill, who turned 57 on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
In a statement made available to media, Chief Eze, an acclaimed authority on the history and culture of the Kalabari Kingdom and her people, described Chief Tonye Princewill as a composite gentleman; personification of courage and philanthropist; an astute politician and enigma. He further described him as a special breed and rare gift to humanity, whose sense of selfless service has unarguably transformed the lives of countless people within and outside Rivers State.
Born on January 4, 1969, Chief Tonye T.J.T Princewill, better addressed as the Prince of Niger Delta Politics is one of the great politicians who have distinguished himself in the politics of the State and the country at large. A Nigerian investor, film producer, a Kalabari Chieftain and Leader and philanthropist par excellence.
Princewill was the 2015 Labour Party and 2007 Action Congress nominee for the Governorship of Rivers State and currently a strong voice in the politics of Nigeria.
He is one time political associate of then former Vice-President of Nigeria, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, and the former Governor of Lagos State and Incumbent President of Nigeria, Senator Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi erstwhile Governor of Rivers State,
Chief Eze observed that interestingly, Tonye Princewill has remained an inspiration to the younger generation especially those aspiring for greatness and yearning for a better, prosperous, united Nigeria.
According to him, Tonye Princewill, as a grass-root politician made history when in 2007, he resolved to join forces with Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to form the most successful unity Government ever in Nigeria.
Eze quoted the celebrant’s account of the alliance, where the Peoples Prince said, “We took the decision at the time the enemy of your enemy is your friend,” indicating his opponents were Celestine Omehia and his godfather, Dr. Peter Odili, the former Governor of Rivers State when Rotimi Amaechi was installed Governor by the court.
He claimed that the decision to withdraw his case was made even easier because the same people who offered to give him 1.5 billion to withdraw his case, came back to offer him 1.5 billion and evidence of how they rigged the election against him to keep his case in court with the motive to remove Rt. Hon. Dr. Amaechi.
Chief Eze also acknowledged that Tonye Princewill later led members of the opposition parties in Rivers State under the banner of the Forum of Organized Opposition Political Parties (FOOPP) to form a unity government with the Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi’s administration.
The party chieftain said notwithstanding the tone of opposing voices, Tonye Princewill stands undisputed as a decimal in the politics of Rivers State and the Niger Delta region in general.
Chief Eze emphasized that at 57, Tonye Princewill has achieved great feats and attained very enviable heights which many dread to even attempt. He pointed out that, from successfully running Riverdrill, his oil and gas conglomerate and other business interests with hundreds of Nigerians meaningfully engaged, to being the youngest gubernatorial candidate in Rivers state elections of 2007, where he was candidate of the Action Congress AC, the Prince was also the Labour Party Governorship candidate in 2015.
According to Chief Eze, the birth of Chief Tonye Princewill, the son and scion to the late famous King (Prof) Theophilus Jacob Tom Princewill (CFR), Amachree XI, the Amayanabo of Kalabari Kingdom, coincided with that of his father who would have turned 94 on 4th January, 2026.
This unique coincidence in the birth of father and son, he noted particularly becomes very significant and distinguishes the household of Prof. TJT Princewill from other families on the planet.
The party Chieftain said: “Having followed this young man for over nineteen years, Chief Eze maintained that a comprehensive account of the politics of Rivers State will be grossly defective without the mention of this enigma; a technocrat of the highest order, an accomplished businessman, a consummate politician and a philanthropist per excellence, whose impact in the political engineering of the State cannot be overemphasised.
“He stands out as a professional engineer and a business magnate, who did not take politics as a profession for lack of means of livelihood but as a means to attract democratic dividends to the people.”
Eze further highlighted that Prince Tonye Princewill was a senior technical project manager and business analyst of the highest caliber.
He praised the celebrant for being “A strategic thinker with excellent problem-solving ability, he is highly adaptable and well experienced across diverse environments. From global, multi party, multi million pound projects to hands-on, low budget challenges, he has a proven track record of getting the job done. He is an excellent communicator, effective at all levels and confident in resolving business, technical and political issues. The motivation, enthusiasm, technical expertise and team building skills Tonye brings to his projects have been pivotal to their successes.”
Continuing, Eze reeled out some other outstanding profile of the celebrant “A post-graduate of Imperial College London, Princewill is a certified PRINCE II practitioner with a sound working knowledge of both ITIL and Change Management and has until quite recently, been a regular presenter on project management issues. In addition to his Information technology and Oil and Gas interests, he has a business empire that spans across the aviation industry to the haulage of petroleum products for NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) and OANDO. His company is involved in strategic placement of resources with the targeted placement of investment from outside and within Rivers State.
“The Chief who clocked 57 January 4, 2026, is credited for exhibiting wisdom beyond his years when in 2007, he withdrew unconditionally, his tribunal case against the PDP in Rivers state for what he called strategic reasons. The AC/PDP partnership practiced in the state is a study in selflessness and political engineering in Nigeria.”
Chief Eze went further to acknowledge Tonye Princewill’s unique personality, saying that, “Princewill is a professional who deliberately entered into politics as a result of his concerns for his people and personal attempts to help them. He decided to bring his acumen and dynamism to bear on his effort to serve his people as Governor in the 2007 and 2015 elections. Even as a private businessman, he has been a people-centered person, who prefers to sacrifice to make others happy. Tonye sees equality in all men.”
Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze gave a vivid account of his entry into the politics of Rivers State explaining that: “In 2007, I was among the Action Congress Presidential Campaign Team that visited Port Harcourt to campaign for the gubernatorial election of Prince Tonye Princewill of Action Congress at Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt.
“It was after the outing that the Presidential Campaign Committee then was formally dissolved and members were asked to move to their states to campaign further.
“Immediately the Action Congress Presidential Campaign Committee was disbanded, the then National Secretary of Turaki Vanguard and member of the Presidential Campaign Organisation, Hon. Lanre Fayemi, visited Port Harcourt to monitor how the Campaign Team of Prince Tonye Princewill was being managed. A few days after, Fayemi confided in the Prince that with what his team was doing, the party had no chance of defeating the PDP in Rivers State. He suggested a re-jigging that would introduce a true political mobiliser to change the dynamics of the party in the state and quickly recommended my humble self. He told the Prince that Eze was the only Nigerian that would step into Port Harcourt and turn the heat on the PDP.
“The next day, Prince Tonye Princewill flew into Abuja to meet with Atiku on the issue of releasing one Chief Eze to him. Atiku laughed and asked if he had handled fire before because according to him, the man he was requesting for was a moving fire. Princewill assured and reassured him that he would do his best. After this, Atiku sent for me and asked me to move to Port Harcourt. That was how I entered into the politics of Rivers State since 2007 till date.
“I sent my then Personal Assistant, Mr. Paschal Njoku, a reputed and respected journalist, to move ahead of me to Port Harcourt and after some days, I joined the Campaign Team.
“The major town we went to was Buguma, the Headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area and the Kalabari Kingdom. After the campaign came a report that militants had blocked the road and we could not move outside the town. Later on, after communicating with the Prince, we were given a passage through which to maneuver. When we got to Port Harcourt, I put on the television only to see in the news that 10 lives were wasted on the same road we had passed through.
“The next day my PA informed me he was resigning his duties. He argued that being the only son of his mother, staying in Rivers was too risky a venture. I appreciated his services to me over the years and discharged him.
“What I achieved while working with Tonye need not be overemphasized. I told the then Governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia, that he needed not change the curtains in the Government House as he had just few months to stay. At that period, I was the only Nigerian media chief that issued five press statements daily on various issues. And true to my wise counsel to Sir Celestine Omehia, within the next few months he was replaced with the authentic Governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
“I changed the name of Prince Tonye Princewill as the Prince of Kalabari Kingdom to the Prince of Niger Delta Politics. In less than two weeks I wrote the book, Prince Tonye Princewill, the Golden Prince of Niger Delta. Everybody wanted to know who this Chief Eze was. I moved out to the streets at times in mere flip-flop and nobody could point at me and say this is Chief Eze, with overgrown bears adorning my face. Senator Magnus Abe then Secretary of Rivers State Government was on his knees pleading with Tonye Princewil to see and be introduced to this Chief Eze and he got the opportunity after the 40th birthday celebration of the Prince.
“After a few days in Port Harcourt, I took ill and left to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, for a major surgery. A day after my surgery, Prince Tonye Princewill called me to inquire about the surgery and told me that Amaechi will be hosting our team in Government House later that evening.
“I told him that the plaster, bandage and other materials used for the surgery were still very fresh and it would be risky to travel under that condition. He insisted that there was no way they would visit Gov. Amaechi when I was not around. So, I left Ibadan to Lagos straight to the Government House to join them.
“Later, we were escorted to the Main Chamber of the Brick House and a few minutes after, Amaechi arrived. I was asked to anchor the meeting. I started by introducing most of our key members among whom were the leader of our team, Prince Tonye Princewill, his Deputy, Chief Williams Igwe, Barr. Osima Ginah, Alabo Diamond Tobin-West, the Moving Train, Hon. Suage Badey, and others.
“When I concluded the introduction, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, asked “but who are you Sir?” “I am Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,” I replied. Amaechi jumped from his seat and yelled repeatedly, GOC! GOC!! GOC!!! General Officer Commanding?. Everyone at the meeting was left in awe. It was an irony of the real GOC calling his subordinate the GOC.
“I told him, Your Excellency, your brother Tonye is a terrible fellow for forcing me out from the hospital after major surgery to attend this meeting.? It was during this meeting that the marriage between PDP and the opposition political parties in Rivers State was formally solemnised.
“We were given two slots in the Rivers State Executive Council where Barr. Osima Ginah became the shining star as the Commissioner for Urban Development and Chief Engr. Davies Ikanya Ibiamu as The Commissioner for Special Duties. Chief Igwe Williams was given the post of Special Adviser on Political Matters while the State Chairman of the party, Hon. Suage Badey, was made a member of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology Governing Council.
“Midway into his first term, Amaechi embarked on a major cabinet reshuffle. We visited him again to review our relationship with his government. Then, Dr. Ibiamu was not reappointed and it was very clear that the system had resolved to do away with him. In the course of the meeting, the Governor responded to almost all the issues we tabled before him but tactically skipped that of Ibiamu’s reappointment. He was about leaving the Chamber when all of a sudden I was prompted to passionately exclaim, “your Excellency, Sir, you have not addressed the issue of the reappointment of Dr. Ibiamu.” The governor then responded that if we wanted Ibiamu to be reappointed, he would do so and we all chorused yes, yes, and that was how Dr. Ibiamu was reappointed, and I am still suffering that boldness in some quarters. My offence was what propelled the audacity in me to challenge what had already been concluded.
“This is how I was introduced to the politics of Rivers State so the fact remains that whatever that I may have achieved in the politics of this great state should be attributed only to this enigma of our time, Prince Tonye Princewil and his beloved brother, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. To these two with God and Atiku Abubakar I owe all my feats in Rivers State.”
In describing Prince Tonye Princewilll further , Eze said that to many Rivers State people, he is regarded as the Prince of the less privileged while to his political associates he is the Prince of the Niger Delta Politics, while to most of his friends from the other parts of the country, he is the latest Bridge Builder ..
Finally, the party Chief said in admiration of the celebrant: “I must confess that in my interaction with human beings within my sixty eight years of sojourn on earth, I have come across very few strong-willed personalities comparable to Tonye Princewill. But of them all, none can be described as an unassuming but very dogged in the pursuit of any course he believes to a fault. An accomplished academic, an orator and a patriot, a charismatic politician, an outstanding philanthropist, a voice for the voiceless, a study in humility, a great manager of human resources, a fearless warrior and unassuming humanist, foresighted and a believer in a united, stronger and viable Rivers State.
“This special gift to the people of Rivers State and Nigeria is the only child of his late father, HM King Prof. T. J. T. Princewil, Amachree XI the famous Amanayanabo of Kalabari kingdom, a renowned Scholar and first class Royal father in Rivers State.
“On behalf of my associates, friends and family, I wish Chief Tonye Princewill a happy progressive birthday and presents to this man of honour who has proven beyond any iota of doubt that it is better to serve than to be served, 57 precious garlands, on the auspicious occasion of his 56th birth anniversary. He prayed God to bless and multiply him in all spheres and beyond human imagination.”
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