Beyond The Cultists, Lies The Struggle For Port-Harcourt - Nigerian Village Square
By Ossie Ezeaku
Sunday, 02 September 2007 06:16

Port-Harcourt, the erstwhile garden City of Nigeria is a city of historical
complexities. It blossomed into an industrial centre under the administration of the Governor of
the defunct Eastern region, the Late Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara. With the aim
of creating a rival Lagos of Eastern Nigeria, Okpara, envisioned and transferred the then
Shell-BP Head quarters from Owerri to Port-Harcourt, built the Presidential Hotel and
the Trans-Amadi industrial layout among other high profile projects. Trans-Amadi, It will be
recalled remains the biggest industrial layout East of the Niger,

While the City continued its positive progression in the 60s, the aborigines, Ikwerre, a subset of
the Igbo, felt dominated and sidelined by the other Igbos. The Mayoral seat of Port-Harcourt
was one of their major grievances, a position occupied then by an Oguta native, Mr. Nzimiro.
It happened that when the Igbo-led Biafran secession failed, the victorious Gen. Yakubu
Gowon refused to allow them, the Ikwerres, to be a part of the new Rivers state. Led by Eze
Frank Ekeh and Elechi Amadi, It took them to renounce their Igbo identity to be accepted in the
new state. Hence, the Ikwerre clan of the old Owerri division, left the political camp of their
kinsmen to sojourn with other groups in the newly created Rivers state.

The lures of being allowed in one of the victorious states was irresistible. To the Ikwerre, It was
the safest bet; a camouflage from their spited kinsmen in the East Central state. Though the
Ijaw played an active role in the early part of the war before defecting to the federal side; a
time the Biafran Air force was headed by one of their sons, in the person of Col. George
Kurubo. But The fact that the Ikwerres had to plead to be a part of the new state, watered down
their psychological ability to engage in an assertive political partnership with the new
powerful Ijaw. Thus, the Ijaw, whom Yakubu Gowon handed the reins of power in Port-Harcourt
in 1970, held the Ikwerre spell bound, and in the process, dictated the affairs of Port-Harcourt
and the new state in general.

With ethnic renouncement firmly secured by Gen Gowon from the Ikwerres, the Houses
belonging to other Igbo groups were summarily ceased. Labeled abandoned property. And that
was it.


Beyond The Cultists, Lies The Struggle For Port-Harcourt - Nigerian Village Square
By Ossie Ezeaku
Sunday, 02 September 2007 06:16
One Barrister Uche Okwukwu, an Ikwerre and Pan Igbo activist, restated that 97 percent of the
ceased Igbo houses in Port-Harcourt were bequeathed to the Ijaws. An advantage that will
naturally repudiate reconciliation, and which can only stir anxiety to the benefactors when the
word reconciliation is mentioned.
The Ijaw having established their political presence in a city hitherto controlled by the Igbo, ruled
and effected changes that were meant to whittle down the Igbo presence within and outside the
city of port-Harcourt. It continued till 1996 when the political map of the state was redrawn with
the creation of Bayelsa out of Rivers state, and with the Capital in the marshlands of Yenogoa.
Bayelsa state, with a population of 1.7 Million and a registered voters' population of 500,000 in
the last elections, represents the largest segment of the Ijaw population in Nigeria. Like any
other group, most Ijaw welcomed the creation of the state. But a minority of their leaders have
yet to come to terms with the creation of Bayelsa state which has robbed the Ijaw the control of
Port-Harcourt. A state creation that has reduced the Ijaw population in the new Rivers state, and
which can at best give them the Deputy gubernatorial seat in the state.

So, beyond the present cult problem lies the unspoken struggle for Port-Harcourt between the
conservative Ijaw elements and the upland people. The political control of the city, like in the
past 40 years has once again changed. This time not in the favor of the Ijaw, but to the
group referred to linguistically by the Rivers state government as Igbo-id. (Igbo speaking). Dr.
Peter Odili emerged from this group, and who is now followed by Celestine Ngozichim Omehia.
It is believed that the hawks within the Ijaw, wants nothing but an Ijaw to emerge the Governor
of Rivers state. This group, led by the indefatigable Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark from Delta
state, has been calling endlessly for a complete state of emergency. By this, they aim to
dethrone Celestine Omehia, have a military man takeover in the interim, and hopefully with the
Ijaw hierarchy in the army, influence the return of an Ijaw in the Brick House Port-Harcourt as
Governor.

But In response to Chief Edwin Clark's insistence on a state of emergency in Rivers State,
Celestine Omehia bluntly reminded him that "Rivers state of today is only 20
percent reverine", referring to the Ijaw. Indirectly telling Clark that his intentions are mere
pipe dreams. The implication of all these, is the gradual destruction of the post civil war


Beyond The Cultists, Lies The Struggle For Port-Harcourt - Nigerian Village Square
By Ossie Ezeaku
Sunday, 02 September 2007 06:16
grouping called "Rivers people", and the drawing of the attention of the wider Igbo in
defense of the Igbo speaking group in Rivers state.
The Ikwerre seem to have realized that there fears of domination by fellow Igbos might have
been baseless, as the post war creation of more states has not witnessed intra-ethnic
interference in political or financial matters within Igbo states. Nigeria being an ethnic based
society, the need to have an associate close home has become more pertinent than ever for the
Ikwerre.
On his inception as Governor of Rivers State, one of Omehia's first visits out side Rivers state
was to Owerri, Imo state, where he met with Chief Ikedi Ohakim. At the meeting the two leaders
spoke extensively on the need to revive the historical links between the two peoples. An idea
that may not have gone down well with some Ijaw hawks.

While the Ijaw may claim to have a stake in Port-Harcourt and Rivers state as a whole, the
challenges of a multicultural entity, are that which which calls for an umbrella socio-cultural body
for the upland people in Rivers state.

A body like that of ANIOMA , formed by the Igbos of Delta state, may help the Igbos of
Rivers state rise to the occasion. The disharmony in Rivers state is real. Special interest groups
are digging in for a long haul. Like the city of Warri, the problem in Port Harcourt seem to be just
starting. Beyond the cultists, lies the struggle for Port-Harcourt.

I was BORN in Portharcourt, so maybe I am also a Portharcout Igbo boy, lol.

frosbel:

I was BORN in Portharcourt, so maybe I am also a Portharcout Igbo boy, lol.

Where in PH are u from?

this post reeks of trouble

I smell kasala in the horizon

afam4eva:

Where in PH are u from?

I am from Imo state, but was born in PH city , Not sure the exact place, it was a while back.

asha 80:

this post reeks of trouble

What sort of trouble is that? Beijing is a truly chinese city.

thanks for brief history, am actual from Orlu Imo State but has been away for 28yrs of mine 35yrs, lost some interested biafra history. thanks for that we are on the move and i believe if care is not taken a lot clan will be left only by so-called Nigeria's and go won-men

Port-hacour seems like the only big city in nigeria that was not built by the federal government.

Port Harcourt in its entirety is not Igboland. About 25% lies outside Igboland and belongs to the Okrika people.
The areas currently facing demolition is non-Igbo. To the residents of the said area, it is an attempt by an Igbo governor to turn Port Harcourt completely Igbo. This is debatable.

Andre Uweh:

Port Harcourt in its entirety is not Igboland. About 25% lies outside Igboland and belongs to the Okrika people.
The areas currently facing demolition is non-Igbo. To the residents of the said area, it is an attempt by an Igbo governor to turn Port Harcourt completely Igbo. This is debatable.

I quite agree. Port-hacourt can be said to be semi-igbo.

Not being biased but only like 10% and less of Port Harcourt land is non Igbo.

Interesting story.

This story ties to something I read yesterday here:
http://massob.org/2010/03/12/biafra-massob-niger-delta-reality-byte-analysis/

Excerpt below:
"I dont think it is right to group all of us from Rivers State as being anti-Biafra. You cant paint all of us with the same brush stroke. We know that some Ikwerre/Etche have problems with the Ijaws and Kalabari. There are dynamics of political and familial relationships in Rivers State that lots of people do not understand (e.g uplander & riverine). Some people still think in terms of 40 years ago. A lot has changed. What remains constant though is that the poor Rivers man is still yelling “anti Biafra” while the elite Rivers Man is educated and rich enough to have patience and take advantage of any situation presented to them.

I am Ikwerre and I have no illusions about where my loyalties lie. I can tell you that it is not against BIAFRA or MASSOB. http://www.massob.org/",

afam4eva:

Port-hacour seems like the only big city in nigeria that was not built by the federal government.

Nope it's not! Sorry!!! PH is built with oil money and Oil is not in Port Harcourt. Where the oil used to build PH is, is not in Igbo land. Why are some of you Igbos obsessed with claiming what doesn't belong to you? PH is a land with many tribes not just Ikweres who Igbos love to claim are Igbos but Ikwere man will tell you he's not Igbo and he's proud of his tribe.

9jaganja:

Nope it's not! Sorry!!! PH is built with oil money and Oil is not in Port Harcourt. Where the oil used to build PH is, is not in Igbo land. Why are some of you Igbos obsessed with claiming what doesn't belong to you? PH is a land with many tribes not just Ikweres who Igbos love to claim are Igbos but Ikwere man will tell you he's not Igbo and he's proud of his tribe.

My wife is Ikwerre and a proud Igbo.

9jaganja:

Nope it's not! Sorry!!! PH is built with oil money and Oil is not in Port Harcourt. Where the oil used to build PH is, is not in Igbo land. Why are some of you Igbos obsessed with claiming what doesn't belong to you? PH is a land with many tribes not just Ikweres who Igbos love to claim are Igbos but Ikwere man will tell you he's not Igbo and he's proud of his tribe.

If you're ignorant about the history of a place why not ask questions or go do some reading instead of talking like a conductor.

Andre Uweh:

My wife is Ikwerre and a proud Igbo.

And Ikwerres are not the only tribe in PH. So Ikwerres should be proud to be Igbo and not who they really are which is not entirely Igbo?

RichyBlacK:

If you're ignorant about the history of a place why not ask questions or go do some reading instead of talking like a conductor.

Don't get mad cause said PH is not an Igbo city. PH is not an Igbo city now move on and think about other things than your next insult besides what's in for Igbos that is not in for other tribes in PH? Aren't y'all the ones crying Ikwerres took your properties during Biafra? I thought they were Igbos too. Negro please let it go.

Why isn't this in the culture section? The whole idea of the article and this thread is dumb. I can't see an article insisting that Enugu is an Igbo city.

Leave who 'owns' a town and live there before we get another Berom/Hausa saga in PH. Many people who claim to be indigenous to PH would say their tribe is Ikwerre or Okrika so wtf is this thread trying to achieve?

Even if they all admit that they are now members of the Igbo tribe, how would that change the lives of the average man on the streets of PH? People are busy looking for water on Mars and others are here insisting which tribe originated from where!

ow11:

Why isn't this in the culture section? The whole idea of the article and this thread is dumb. I can't see an article insisting that Enugu is an Igbo city. 

Leave who 'owns' a town and live there before we get another Berom/Hausa saga in PH. Many people who claim to be indigenous to PH would say their tribe is Ikwerre or Okrika so wtf is this thread trying to achieve?

Even if they all admit that they are now members of the Igbo tribe, how would that change the lives of the average man on the streets of PH? People are busy looking for water on Mars and others are here insisting which tribe originated from where!

My brother, i tire for Nairaland/nigeria. What does it matter if PH is an igbo city or not.

We are the problems of Nigeria. We draw lines where lines do not need to be, and then we get mad when other people cross it.

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cheaphost:

Pls stop displaying ignorance here. i'm an Ikwerre man from Port-hacourt and by extension i'm Igbo. pls speak for your village.

@Cheaphost. God bless you. Some people in Rivers state do not feel happy seeing the Ikwerre uniting with their Igbo kins.
My wife is Ikwerre, she and her Ikwerre family are fond of their Igboness.
I use this medium to say happy mothers day to all Ikwerre and entire Igbo women.

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