HON. WELLINGTON THANKS CONSTITUENTS FOR SPONTANEOUS SOLIDARITY; RIVERS ASSEMBLY C'TEE VISITS BUGUMA

Following a bill sponsored by the member representing Asari-Toru Constituency 1 in the Rivers State House of Asembly, Hon. Granville Tekenari Wellington for the return of Kalabari Girls High School (popularly called Marywood) back to the State Government, the Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Education, as part of its oversight function, visited the school on Monday, 15th April, 2024.
The school, which is now wearing a new look with world-class boarding facilities, was renovated and rehabilitated by the administration of the immediate past Rivers State governor, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike
Upon arrival by the visiting House Committee, the entire Buguma town went agog with community chiefs, women and youth groups chanting solidarity songs with high expectation of the return of their only girls' secondary school in no distant time.
Thanking his constituents for the outpour of solidarity and appreciation during the visit, Hon. Wellington was full of appreciation to the people of the area for coming out in their numbers to appreciate the efforts of the state legislature in expediting action for the return of the school to the state government, after being erroneously ceded to the Catholic mission in 2005.
This was contained in a publication made on his Facebook timeline, which reads:
"To the glory of God, the Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) Amendment Bill 2024 that I sponsored seeks to legally empower the return of Kalabari Girls High School, Buguma from a Catholic mission school to the hands of Rivers State Government.
"The school was originally built through community effort and was erroneously handed over to the Catholic Church as a mission school in 2005. The church outrightly abandoned this prestigious school. Thus, allowing it turn into a criminal hideout and security threat to my constituents.
"With the visit of the House Committee on Education today, I and my constituents are now confident of a functional Kalabari Girls High School.
"I am very elated because before now, it has been a back and forth with the Catholic Church Directorate of Education. For many years, I kept visiting and interfacing with them to see that they officially handover the school back to our people and Rivers State Government since their long abandonment reflects a lack of interest on their side.
"Today, with my humble effort, the commitment of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly ably led by Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule and the intervention of the past Nyesom Ezenwo Wike led government which renovated and rehabilitated the school with world-class boarding facilities, I can boldly say we have crossed all the hurdles and our dear school is on its way back for the benefit and development and educational advancement of Buguma, Asari-Toru LGA and Kalabari kingdom at large.
"I want to wholeheartedly thank the Reagent of Kalabari Kingdom, the Kalabari and Buguma Council of Chiefs, the Asari-Toru LGA Chairman, the women and youths who spontaneously thronged out in their numbers to warmly welcome the House Committee and effusively show appreciation for the return of our dear Maryhood."