Foremost governorship aspirant in Rivers State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Arc Tonye Cole, was on Monday accorded royal reception in Abonnems and Buguma, Headquarters of Akuku-Toru (AKULGA) and Asari-Toru (ASALGA) local government areas.

Accompanied by a star-studded team of APC stalwarts and supporters led by the Rivers State Chairman of APC, Hon. Ojukaye Flag Amachree, also an indigene of the area and former Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Council, Cole's first port of call was his hometown, Abonnema, where a mammoth crowd of jubilant kinsmen comprising of men, women and children lined the road from the end of the bridge leading into Abonnema, waving at the convoy of cars that brought their illustrious son and several party dignitaries.

Abonnema was a carnival of sorts as the jubilant crowd defied the heavy downpour to accord the tall, handsome, soft-spoken and highly rated governorship aspirant and his entourage a well-deserved reception.

Driving through the major road in Abonnema amidst singing and dancing by excited community members, security personnel had a lot to do to control the crowd.

The august visitor and his entourage made a brief stop-over in his father's house in Abonnema before proceeding to Iju-Jack Memorial Hall, where the chiefs and elders of the Iju-Jack group of Houses had assembled to accord their illustrious son a befitting welcome.

At the Iju Memorial Hall, Tonye Cole apprised the gathering of his mission, which he said was to inform his people about what God had done for him through Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to be in the race for the governorship of the state, come 2019.

Responding on behalf of the chiefs and elders present, the acting paramount chief of the Iju-Jack group of houses, Rtd Supreme Court Judge, Chief Adolphus G. Karibi-Whyte, Ph.D, expressed gratitude to God for this "great opportunity" given to their son and the Kalabari nation and prayed that God should see him successfully through the struggle for the highest office in the state. He also thanked the Transportation Minister, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, CON, for the opportunity given to their son and the Kalabari nation to have a shot at the governorship of the state in 2019.

From the Iju Memorial Hall, the team proceeded to the King's palace in Abonnema, where the aspirant relayed same reasons for his visit.

The Amanyanabo, HM King Sir (Barr) Disrael Gbobo BobManuel II, Owukori lX, on behalf of the Abonnema Council of Chiefs, thanked God for the good tidings and wished Tonye Cole the best of luck in the contest.

Highlight of the visit to the palace in Abonnema was prayer for the aspirant and the presentation of a Bible as gift to him by the Amanyanabo.

From Abonnema, the team travelled to Buguma, the ASALGA Headquarters where they were received in the King's palace by the Amanyanabo, HM King (Prof) T.J.T Princewill, CFR, Amachree Xl and Buguma Council of Chiefs. At the palace in Buguma, it was ditto by Tonye Cole for the reasons for his visit. The Amanyanabo prayed for him and also gave him his blessings.

One incident in Buguma that drew sympathy for Tonye Cole and indignation against his detractors was the detailed and graphic recall of his genealogy by the Palace Secretary, Chief Hon Datroko Prince Dateme. His narration of the facts gave ample credence to Tonye Cole as a bonafide Kalabari son and served as a disclaimer to the untruths peddled in some uninformed quarters.

From the King's palace in Buguma, the team moved to the palatial residence of Hon Ojukaye Flag Amachree where hundreds of party men and supporters were treated to good food.

A meeting was later held at Ojukaye's residence that same evening to resolve some outstanding political issues in the three Kalabari LGAs of Akulga, Asalga and Delga under the arbitration of Hon Flag Amachree and Arc Tonye Cole.

Other party stalwarts who accompanied the aspirant on the visit included Engr Beks Dagogo-Jack, Dr Dawari George, Prince Engr Tonye Princewill and Hon. Onari Brown.

Others include Hon. Theodore Georgewill, Mr. Serite Dodiyi-Manuel, Sir Ngo Martyns-Yellowe, Hon. Alapuye Cotterel, Hon (Mrs) Joeba West, Hon Engr Levi Braide, Hon Stanley Benebo and Chief Dabo Dappa, among several others.

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