The Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Leyii Kwanee, has commended the management and staff of the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation for providing meaningful entertainment for the public through its annual Easter Choral festival, describing the station as one institution that has helped to make Rivers State.
In a press statement made available to journalists by David Amusa, Media Assistant to Kwanee, the deputy speaker stated that while speaking with newsmen at the 9th edition of the Radio Rivers 99.1 FM Easter Choral festival in Port Harcourt.
Kwanee said the station has also helped to create nostalgic identity for the Rivers man.
He recalled: “At the early times, when one talked about Rivers State, he remembered Radio Rivers, Sharks of Port Harcourt, traditional wrestling matches among peoples of Rivers State that produced the Eferebos, Bekweris, etc among others.”
Kwanee said he was happy that the station was still waxing strong even in this period of stiff competition and rivalry in the broadcast industry.
He, however, stressed the need for the station to do more, pointing out that posterity and Rivers people will not forgive the station if it allows its voice to be drowned by those of the other numerous radio stations in the city.
“Not only that, it will be disappointing to our dear Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, for all the resources he has put into the station to keep it alive, if the station does not raise its head high”, he added.
The deputy speaker noted that that was why the choral festival was encouraging, as a part of the spirit of revival of the station.
He suggested that the station should organise dance and drama competiton among the 23 local government areas in addition to the choral festival.
This, he said, would help make prominent the name of the station locally, nationally and internationally and provide tourists attraction to the station and the state.
“Rivers people are gifted in different acts such as dancing, drama and singing. One expects Radio Rivers to also organise dancing and drama competitions.”