Peace responsible for rise and fall of property, estates in any location – Mayor of Housing
By BARBARA KALU, Port Harcourt –
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has declared that property and estates rise and fall in any location based on the prevalence of peace in that area.
For this reason, he wants the Government and other critical stakeholders in Rivers State to ensure that they build peace so that in the end, their investment in property and estates would yield the desired profit.
The Mayor of Housing, made the remarks in Port Harcourt at the weekend when the Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism bestowed the prestigious award of ‘Beacon of Peace Award’ to Governor Sim Fubara; the Director- General of the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA), Yibo Koko and himself, for their contributions in promoting Tourism and Peace in the state.
The award ceremony was part of activities lined up to celebrate the World Tourism Day 2024 in Rivers State last weekend at the Atlantic Hall of the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt.
Speaking after receiving his award, My-ACE China said “the biggest asset Rivers State has and its treasure is its people.”
He expressed happiness that Governor Fubara had demonstrated that peace was the most important gift he has for the state by resisting all provocations and attempts to stage fights.
My-ACE China is the Chief Executive Officer of the Housing and Construction Mayor Limited, promoters of the upcoming Alesa Smart City Highland, which has been promoting peace in Rivers State so that houses and estates can attract value.
He said: “Actually the award is coming a little bit earlier than I thought because I’ve been trying to promote peace and tourism within the state especially since the last economic summit that took place in May, 2024. We have been pumping a lot of energy and effort into that space and into promoting peace. “We highlighted peace and tourism in the last economic and investment summit because we found out that peace is actually the precursor for investment and you can’t really get investment without first promoting peace.
“Again, once there’s no tourism there’s no housing because houses become valuable where people go to. Land is actually worthless without people and that’s why the Sahara Desert is not worth anything because nobody wants to live there.
“So as the Mayor of Housing, I’m concerned about the values of the commercial property and estates I build. This is because they are finite and they rise and fall based on the rise and fall of peace. I decided to take it upon myself to promote peace so as to promote my business; but today’s award is a testament to the ripple effect of the effort of one person. I say it comes prematurely because I was thinking before I can make a difference, it’ll probably take me a decade, but this is just about six months and we are already being noticed and rewarded.”
He encouraged other stakeholders to join the peace initiatives, stressing that the award bestowed on his was not only meant to ginger him into doing more but also as a way of encouraging others who were just watching to jump and make a difference.
“This is the treasure base of the nation but the treasure is not what is in the base; the treasure is in the people. You are the treasure, I am the treasure, and I think today I am being awarded as a treasure and I will like to spread that treasure.
“I actually called the governor ‘Peace Personified’. Rivers State has got auspicious times in these times because this is the first time we have a peace-loving governor that is so peaceful. Even on social media and amongst the rumour mongering circles, people see him as weak. This is because he has refused to be provoked. Despite him knowing such notions about him making the rounds, he has remained calm and peaceful, despite the incessant opportunities for provocation. He has remained peaceful, despite the excuses he has not to do any developmental project. He has continued to break strides not only in developmental projects in health, housing, and education, but he has even broken a jinx in Rivers State that made me to call him ‘My Continuity Legend’.
‘This is the first time a governor is continuing the projects of past administrations. This is also the first time that we have opportunities for the youth. The governor is so youthful in disposition such that this is the first time we have a Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly younger than yours sincerely, the Mayor of Housing.”
My-ACE China, who noted that a lot of youths were being given an opportunity to shine, also used the opportunity to challenge all the youths in Rivers State: “this is an opportunity for us to rally together and build peace behind a peace-loving governor and let the peace become so strong, so fortified, and so endowed that even when he leaves and another governor comes in, he can no longer destroy the existing peace because we have galvanised around it like a bunch of broom that cannot be broken. On the other hand, if we allow the governor alone preaching peace, whenever he is no longer there, we will lose this traction. So, this an opportunity and an auspicious time for Rivers State.
“Remember, peace is not peace for peace’s sake, we live in a global society where peace is for profit’s sake, because peace is a prerequisite for business and profit.”
Speaking earlier at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Barr Ishmael Dieokuma, said the World Tourism Day celebrated every September 27 creates awareness among international communities on the need to create the peaceful environment needed to incubate tourism as the second biggest sector of the economy.
Rivers Queen of Peace, Miss Tobechi Elendu
During the event, the state’s Cultural Troup showcased many dances and songs, while other invited cultural troupes also performed to standing ovations.
The newly crowned Rivers Queen of Peace, 18-year-old Tobechi Elendu, graced the occasion with her team.