‘I Don’t Own A House Or Land’ …Says Tonye Princewill, Popular Politician That Doles Out N23m Scholarship And More In Rivers State

Popular Rivers State Politician, Prince Tonye Princewill just made a surprise revelation to www.societynowng.com – he doesn’t own a house or land in the country!

He made this startling disclosure in Lagos recently.

For a man that doles out more scholarships to graduates and undergraduates than his state government(Rivers)- outside of personal gestures here and there- this sounds shocking.

According to Prince Princewill ‘there are so much to do with limited resources to do it’

He explains his reason for towing this line as ‘deriving satisfaction from helping people’

‘I enjoy doing this, helping people. It is what I love doing.

You will be amazed by how much impact a small gesture can have on the lives of the populace. Fine, the problem with helping a lot people is that you can’t really give so much to one person…but there is joy in sharing’ he elaborated.

He gave further insight with explanation that ‘ I am doing this basically to alleviate the standard of living and give the coming generations hope’

But like the typical politician what are hidden agenda behind his gestures?

He clarified ‘I am not doing it for politics. I am in politics because I belief it is too important to leave in the hands of politicians. I joined politics because it is a means to create the change that I desire. Before now I was helping out politicians with funding and all that. But I joined when I realised I needed to be in the system to effect the change I desire’

And since he joined how has he been able to avoid soil in the murky waters of the terrain?

‘I want to be known for saying it as it is..so that when I make mistake I can own up to it..that is what I do..I believe people need to start to say what is correct and what is right..I criticise because I want improvement..and I don’t value the party against by people. These principles guide me in this terrain’

He is said to enjoy a special relationship with Governor Amaechi- any particular reason for this?

‘There is nothing more than the common interest for good government. I am Amaechi’s biggest critics. But we work together because he appreciates constructive criticism’

What are his immediate plans towards elective post- any particular position in mind?

He smiled and responded ‘ I don’t have any political ambition in mind. I am just involved in a process that will give the next generation hope, to change the status quo for the better’

But at what level does he feel he can impact on the lives of people- if he gets to make a choice?

‘I’ll prefer the office of the President or Governor. I think it is at that level that I can make the kind of impact that I want’

On Tuesdays and Thursdays his doors are thrown open for visitors from every nooks and cranny of the state- and he just instituted a N23m scholarship scheme in Rivers state, how does he gets funding for his activities?

‘I use my personal resources. I have my businesses and use funds from there. I am a project manager. All those trolleys that you see at the Airports? That is my business. And I am into hospitality business- Hotels. I have good administrators and have successful businesses’ he disclosed and continued

‘But inspite of this, I still need help. I need funds. That is the biggest challenge that I am facing- there is so much to do but limited means. Please people should come to my rescue with money in reaching out to people’ he rounded off jokingly.

What drives- propels him?

‘The need for a better society. I have always have that yearning when growing up..I don’t have any role model- I just want to change the thinking and orientation of the people for the better’

What is the biggest sacrifice he can do for this cause?

‘I so much believe in what I am doing that I can die for it. I don’t have any house or land in Nigeria. I had two houses in London but sold one and I have just one now. That is how much I believe in what I am doing’