[size=18pt]Okrika  Town  Hall  Meeting: Booing Galore As Gov Amaechi Dares Okrika People…Says Waterfronts Must Go Down[/size]



It was a booing session at Okrika Local Government Council, venue of the Town Hall Meeting organized by the Rivers State Government, as Gov Rotimi Amaechi dared Okrika people on the issue of the waterfronts demolition.

Governor Amaechi who visited Okrika on Thursday, August 5, 2010, told the people of Okrika point-blank, that he would unfailingly demolish the waterfronts, rebuild it and sell to prospective buyers.

Knowing the sensitivity of the issue of the demolition of the waterfronts to the Okrika people, the governor began his speech by declaring that he would “stir the hornets nest” with the statement that the demolition of the waterfronts was a foregone conclusion.

He however, said he would pay for the houses before demolition and pointed out that he was not in Okrika to take permission from them, but rather to tell them to their face that they could do nothing to deter him on his decision to demolish the waterfronts.

Like a man who was prepared to live up to  his statement of stirring the hornets nest, Gov. Amaechi told the people of Okrika that he cared less if he was liked by them or not as government was not a popularity test but rather the ability to deliver.

With the booing and interruptions mostly from the womenfolk going on continuously, Gov Amaechi, who apparently felt they should be grateful to him, lambasted past government officials of Okrika origin for causing chaos in their land which he had to take care of.

He said the greatest problem of Okrika was insecurity before he became governor and that lives were wantonly taken, night life a thing of the past and permission taken from some persons before bereaved families could bury their dead, and the same occurred before building houses.

The chiefs, he added, lost control and found it difficult to talk to the boys and challenge any of the past leaders of Okrika to walk freely, un-escorted, in Okrika at night, the way he would do in his own town.

He said land was also forcefully taken which he had tried to correct by the taking over of some of them mostly at Okochiri.

Another booing session by the women occurred when he said the proliferation of guns in Okrika did not happen in Ikwerre land.

Despite entreaties by prominent sons of Okrika including the chairman of the Divisional Council of Chiefs, (Dr) Tari Sekibo Odoabaji and the INC president, Dr Atuboyedia Obianime on the issue of the waterfronts, the governor stood his ground, but rather made the impossible demand that they sign an agreement that no criminal activity would ever occur at the waterfronts and that should there be any reported case, he would without further consultations send the bulldozers for action.

He also rejected the plea for the sand filling of the nearby mangroves as an alternative place for the would-be displaced citizens.

Governor Amaechi said his administration, within a space of three years, had done what past Okrika leaders could not do for several years by building schools, health centres and ring road which he said he reviewed from N900m to N3 billion and had paid all, while the contract was given to a son of Okrika.

Amaechi said when he was a speaker, before the end of his tenure, he endeared himself to his people by building roads in every Ikwerre community, while none was done for the Okrika people by their past leaders.

He also said he had set aside N3.6 billion to build a secondary school in Okrika, if land would be provided as the Anglican Church refused him to rebuild the Okrika Grammar School, OGS, and went ahead to read out several names of Okrika sons and daughters studying on state government's scholarship at home and abroad.

The governor laughed when a young lady suggested the building of a University in Okrika, wondering where that would be situated, as his request for land to build a secondary school has not been met.

Gov Amaechi, who was accompanied by the deputy governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, had earlier paid courtesy visit on the Amanyanabo of Ogoloma, HRH. E.T.I Obudibo, Ikwo the 5th, in his palace at Ogoloma.

Several dignitaries attended the Okrika Town Hall Meeting, including Senator George Sekibo, Rt. Hon (Barr) John Kalipa, Member representing Okrika/Ogu/Bolo federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Magnus Abbe, SSG, Hon. Andrew Uchendu, Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart, Member RSHA Commissioners of Information, Health and Education, Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs, Mr. Miabiye Kuroyemima, the IYC President and several other dignitaries.


http://www.nationalnetworkonline.com/nnetwork/VOL7/N031/news.html#Amaechis_Second_Term_Bid_Hits_Rock%E2%80%A6Declares_War_On_Opposition

This is a clear example of the beef between the Igbos and the Ijaws and why there is tension when it comes to the Igbos deciding to go with a Jonathan presidency or a northern presidency. Ijaws have tried so many times to supress the Igbos and it always ends with them screwing themselves double. Bayelsa was created to cut off the hold that the ijaws were trying to put on the Igbos.By creating the state a huge chunk of ijaws where taken out of river state which gave the ikwerre(igbos) and other groups more breathing room. The creation of Bayelsa was the handy-work of the igbos. Now as before the shadiness of the Ijaws towards the Igbos are coming right back to bite them in the azz with what Gov. Amaechi is doing to them. The Ijaws will never learn that when the Igbos get back to them its going to be 10 times worse. This is the reason why ijaws envy the Igbos especially Edwin Clarke.

That is why I support Gov Amaechi, he does not play around with these Okrika people. Those boos sounds like music to my ears. Igwe Ocha (Port Harcourt) will always remain an Igbo town. It is about time that these Ijaws understand that they cannot take this land from us.

He telling them that they have to leave is very funny as well. He is not asking them for permission, he is telling them. If these Okrika people do not like this ruling, then they can pack their bags and move to desolate Bayelsa state.

And the Ikwerre should understand that they need their Igbo brothers to the north. We will always be with them, even though they deny us sometimes. They are still our people and we shall support them.

chyz:

This is a clear example of the beef between the Igbos and the Ijaws and why there is tension when it comes to the Igbos deciding to go with a Jonathan presidency or a northern presidency. Ijaws have tried so many times to supress the Igbos and it always ends with them screwing themselves double. Bayelsa was created to cut off the hold that the ijaws were trying to put on the Igbos.By creating the state a huge chunk of ijaws where taken out of river state which gave the ikwerre(igbos) and other groups more breathing room. The creation of Bayelsa was the handy-work of the igbos. Now as before the shadiness of the Ijaws towards the Igbos are coming right back to bite them in the azz with what Gov. Amaechi is doing to them. The Ijaws will never learn that when the Igbos get back to them its going to be 10 times worse. This is the reason why ijaws envy the Igbos especially Edwin Clarke.

The first time I read about the deeper perspectives about the creation of Bayelsa State, I was really amazed. The Ebonyi and Bayelsa States were midwifed by Great Zik; Bayelsa was created so as to liberate the non-Ijaws in Rivers.

EzeUche22:

That is why I support Gov Amaechi, he does not play around with these Okrika people. Those boos sounds like music to my ears. Igwe Ocha (Port Harcourt) will always remain an Igbo town. It is about time that these Ijaws understand that they cannot take this land from us.

He telling them that they have to leave is very funny as well. He is not asking them for permission, he is telling them. If these Okrika people do not like this ruling, then they can pack their bags and move to desolate Bayelsa state.

And the Ikwerre should understand that they need their Igbo brothers to the north. We will always be with them, even though they deny us sometimes. They are still our people and we shall support them.

There is no alternative to the bolded. Well said, Uchenna.

chyz:

This is a clear example of the beef between the Igbos and the Ijaws and why there is tension when it comes to the Igbos deciding to go with a Jonathan presidency or a northern presidency. Ijaws have tried so many times to supress the Igbos and it always ends with them screwing themselves double. Bayelsa was created to cut off the hold that the ijaws were trying to put on the Igbos.By creating the state a huge chunk of ijaws where taken out of river state which gave the ikwerre(igbos) and other groups more breathing room. The creation of Bayelsa was the handy-work of the igbos. Now as before the shadiness of the Ijaws towards the Igbos are coming right back to bite them in the azz with what Gov. Amaechi is doing to them. The Ijaws will never learn that when the Igbos get back to them its going to be 10 times worse. This is the reason why ijaws envy the Igbos especially Edwin Clarke.

How unfortuntae. I sometimes wonder how we complicate simple issues and give it tribal colouration all the time. How low can ones thinking get when , a case like this is fully interpreted as an Ijaw Versus Igbo struggle.

If Tinubu or Fashola goes to certain parts of Lekki to sell some planned govt action that will change peoples lives the way they are not very comfortable with, they will definitely be booed.

Tinubu went to Ajegunle in 1999 after some tribal conflict and concluded that most people where living far below the minimum level he was comfortable with and that , that was the major threat to security . He thereafter made pronouncement that he was going to demolish a lot of houses and build a low-cost housing estate. Immediately after the pronouncement the warring factions found a new enemy in tinubu, they got a court injuction to stop him, Daddy showkey released an album saying "somebody tun le se, somebody da le ru". If tinubu had gone ahead, he sure would have been surprised by the level of opposition he would have had. Was it because of tribal difference?

The issue here with the waterfront, is that the  Governor sees it as a major source of security breach in the state, while the people see it as an attempt to forcefully change their way of life. Sure there will be resistance even if the people are of same tribe as the governor. It will happen anywhere, Imo,Ebonyi Adamawa et al.

As touching some of the utterrances of the governor concerning okrika sons not doing enough for their people, it could be that he sees some desperate polticians trying to make manna of the situation to get some popularity amongst the okrikas. Waterfront or not, Ameachi still has enemies in the ODILIS,ABIYE SEKIBOs, Celestine Omeihas of this world. Are all these people ijaws too?

I think Amaechi still need to go about whatever programmes he has for his state with some level of maturity.

Governance isn't about yielding political might. He needs to carry everyone along in order not breed bad blood.

Ofcourse, that does not imply he sacrifices good judgment or what is necessary to be done in order for his state to move forward on the altar of compromise.

no idea what's being talked about here.

Amaechi should not forget that the insecurity problem in Okrika was caused by those he was sharing a table with (Abiye Sekibo, Odili) who tried to use the Koniju/Tuboniju dichotomy to steal power for PDP in Okrika. Before pointing fingers at the Okrika leaders, he must remember that it was his duty as Speaker to bring the law to bear on Odili/Sekibo for sponsoring the civil war in Okrika after the death of Amanyanabo SPU Ogan and the succession struggle that followed. There is no way he can point fingers at anyone in Okrika without incriminating himself.

Secondly, Mr Amaechi was my next-door neighbour in Okarki street in Borokiri in the 1990's. I hope he will also remember his history as a waterside boy before justifying his scorched earth policy in the Waterfronts of Borokiri. We are 3 years into his tenure and yet to see the proposed transformation of these waterfronts.

have not been to the place, but is it worth living, as in security of the people and condition of leaving, any pixs of these waterfronts?

chiozor:

have not been to the place, but is it worth living, as in security of the people and condition of leaving, any pixs of these waterfronts?

The place is f***ed up.there is nothing tribal about this issue.the amanyanabo of okrika is my inlaw and does not support crime.the problem is that the okrikas have experienced wars and self-imposed marginalisation for so many years and have therefore grown violent.okrikas are a careful mixture of ijaw and igbo and speak both languages.there is still an overwhelming level of inter-marriage with igbos till this day.any well meaning okrika indigene will back amaechis planned development of the waterfronts.some politicians are just fueling the crisis to discredit amaechi.

I was at the water front area of Port Harcourt in my last visit to Nigeria.It was a perfect spot for sensimina but to be honest if those people are not properly settled in a different and descent environment, destitution will destroy Port Harcourt. I saw gun toting gang bangers all extorting money from people just chilling around the area but don't live there. I think the governor of the state should arrange a settlement for the people before just destroying their shelter. But I gotta say the people there are living on the edge of the world waiting for a last push to fall and raise hell. Don't provoke the extreme!!! They are using government to claim territory and this is wrong in all codes.

This is why I say Nigerian government is on most front one of the worst in the world. There has to be a provision for settlers' relation with natives else we will commit a cultural genocide. Nigerian lands are not owned by the federal government, they are owned by the people of the state/people of the towns and villages. If we keep saying we are all Nigerians and anyone has right to be native in any part of Nigeria, we will commit a cultural genocide and cause a cultural conflict. Ikwerre people have majority land in Port Harcourt according to what I figured in my numerous visits to Port Harcourt but they don't own all of the land. Being majority in a land doesn't make the minority obsolete. If you treat them as being obsolete because of you are a majority, you will cause an uprising.

Are there no social philosophers in Nigeria? Is this country that silly? We are not one in Nigeria, we are 253 and every member ought to be heard and respected culturally and territorially. If a bunch of settlers settle in your village and refuse to play by your cultural norms, then they have the right to leave and have denied themselves the right to stay. You can't impose yourself on indigenes of a land as a stranger. If you buy land from them, you are only renting it; the land belong to the natives of the land and as long as you assimilate with their culture and don't try to impose your views on them, you can stay forever and establish as part of them. That's how to keep each member of this fake union happy.


I hope the naive ogre Jonathan reads this next time he wants to post about settler/native relation in Nigeria on facebook.


NATIONAL REFERENDUM NOW OR NIGERIA NEVER!!!! WE ARE ON THE BRINK OF A SERIOUS CIVIL UPRISING!!!!!

Abagworo:

The place is f***ed up.there is nothing tribal about this issue.the amanyanabo of okrika is my inlaw and does not support crime.the problem is that the okrikas have experienced wars and self-imposed marginalisation for so many years and have therefore grown violent.okrikas are a careful mixture of ijaw and igbo and speak both languages.there is still an overwhelming level of inter-marriage with igbos till this day.any well meaning okrika indigene will back amaechis planned development of the waterfronts.some politicians are just fueling the crisis to discredit amaechi.

Abagworo what do you mean by self imposed marginalisation?

9jaganja:

I was at the water front area of Port Harcourt in my last visit to Nigeria.It was a perfect spot for sensimina but to be honest if those people are not properly settled in a different and descent environment, destitution will destroy Port Harcourt. I saw gun toting gang bangers all extorting money from people just chilling around the area but don't live there. I think the governor of the state should arrange a settlement for the people before just destroying their shelter. But I gotta say the people there are living on the edge of the world waiting for a last push fall and raise hell. Don't provoke the extreme!!! They are using government to claim territory and this is wrong in all codes.

This is why I say Nigerian government is on most front one of the worst in the world. There has to be a provision for settlers' relation with natives else we will commit a cultural genocide. Nigerian lands are not owned by the federal government, they are owned by the people of the state/people of the towns and villages. If we keep saying we are all Nigerians and anyone has right to be native in any part of Nigeria, we will commit a cultural genocide and cause a cultural conflict. Ikwerre people have majority land in Port Harcourt according to what I figured in my numerous visits to Port Harcourt but they don't own all of the land. Being majority in a land doesn't make the minority obsolete. If you treat them as being obsolete because of you are a majority, you will cause an uprising.

Are there no social philosophers in Nigeria? Is this country that silly? We are not one in Nigeria, we are 253 and every member ought to be heard and respected culturally and territorially. If a bunch of settlers settle in your village and refuse to play by your cultural norms, then they have the right to leave and have denied themselves the right to stay. You can't impose yourself on indigenes of a land as a stranger. If you buy land from them, you are only renting it; the land belong to the natives of the land and as long as you assimilate with their culture and don't try to impose your views on them, you can stay forever and establish as part of them. That's how to keep each member of this fake union happy.


I hope the naive ogre Jonathan reads this next time he wants to post about settler/native relation in Nigeria.


NATIONAL REFERENDUM NOW OR NIGERIA NEVER!!!! WE ARE ON THE BRINK OF A SERIOUS CIVIL UPRISING!!!!!

You gave a thought you know.I thought all 'rivers'people claim to be one and in harmony.So why the furore?Some people you ask them their ethnic group and they claim rivers no be so?

asha 80:

You gave a thought you know.I thought all 'rivers'people claim to be one and in harmony.So why the furore?Some people you ask them their ethnic group and they claim rivers no be so?

Not true at all Rivers is like to the southeast as what kwara is to the southwest. It is not harmonious at all

9jaganja:

I was at the water front area of Port Harcourt in my last visit to Nigeria.It was a perfect spot for sensimina but to be honest if those people are not properly settled in a different and descent environment, destitution will destroy Port Harcourt. I saw gun toting gang bangers all extorting money from people just chilling around the area but don't live there. I think the governor of the state should arrange a settlement for the people before just destroying their shelter. But I gotta say the people there are living on the edge of the world waiting for a last push to fall and raise hell. Don't provoke the extreme!!! They are using government to claim territory and this is wrong in all codes.

This is why I say Nigerian government is on most front one of the worst in the world. There has to be a provision for settlers' relation with natives else we will commit a cultural genocide. Nigerian lands are not owned by the federal government, they are owned by the people of the state/people of the towns and villages. If we keep saying we are all Nigerians and anyone has right to be native in any part of Nigeria, we will commit a cultural genocide and cause a cultural conflict. Ikwerre people have majority land in Port Harcourt according to what I figured in my numerous visits to Port Harcourt but they don't own all of the land. Being majority in a land doesn't make the minority obsolete. If you treat them as being obsolete because of you are a majority, you will cause an uprising.

Are there no social philosophers in Nigeria? Is this country that silly? We are not one in Nigeria, we are 253 and every member ought to be heard and respected culturally and territorially. If a bunch of settlers settle in your village and refuse to play by your cultural norms, then they have the right to leave and have denied themselves the right to stay. You can't impose yourself on indigenes of a land as a stranger. If you buy land from them, you are only renting it; the land belong to the natives of the land and as long as you assimilate with their culture and don't try to impose your views on them, you can stay forever and establish as part of them. That's how to keep each member of this fake union happy.


I hope the naive ogre Jonathan reads this next time he wants to post about settler/native relation in Nigeria on facebook.


NATIONAL REFERENDUM NOW OR NIGERIA NEVER!!!! WE ARE ON THE BRINK OF A SERIOUS CIVIL UPRISING!!!!!

Enlightened post. Rivers state is more diverse than you might think though so I don't think it is as easy as saying 'majority of the land is Ikwerre'. I agree with your last paragraph though. Nigeria is simply not one ethnic group and we should stop supporting government sanctioned ethnic chauvinism, we should see our diversity as part of our richness and strength. Let every group be respected and heard and let no one walk over the other, simple as that. At the end of the day we need a more united Southern Nigeria (middle belt included).

Sky Blue:

Enlightened post. Rivers state is more diverse than you might think though so I don't think it is as easy as saying 'majority of the land is Ikwerre'. I agree with your last paragraph though. Nigeria is simply not one ethnic group and we should stop supporting government sanctioned ethnic chauvinism, we should see our diversity as part of our richness and strength. Let every group be respected and heard and let no one walk over the other, simple as that. At the end of the day we need a more united Southern Nigeria (middle belt included).

Ikwerres form the majority in rivers state and then you have other Igbo sub-groups which are usually categorized along with the Ikwerres as Igbos. The only somewhat relevant group there are the Ogonis.

afam4eva:

Ikwerres form the majority in rivers state and then you have other Igbo sub-groups which are usually categorized along with the Ikwerres as Igbos. The only somewhat relevant group there are the Ogonis.

Are you from RV state?

afam4eva:

Ikwerres form the majority in rivers state and then you have other Igbo sub-groups which are usually categorized along with the Ikwerres as Igbos. The only somewhat relevant group there are the Ogonis.

I won't get into an arguement over this (because I know which direction it will go) but there are much more than Ikwerres and Ikwerre subgroups in Rivers State, just do basic research and you would see how amusing that statement sounds.

Sky Blue:

I won't get into an arguement over this (because I know which direction it will go) but there are much more than Ikwerres and Ikwerre subgroups in Rivers State, just do basic research and you would see how amusing that statement sounds.

Yes there are other groups. Ndoni, Andoni, Ogoni, Ijaw(Okrika etc) but they are all minorities.

ow11:

Are you from RV state?

No i'm not but i've lived their.

If u argue that the igbos are not majority in Rivers state u must not know anything about  or every been to Rivers state.

chyz:

If u argue that the igbos are not majority in Rivers state u must not know anything about  or every been to Rivers state.

Ikwerre alone is a majority not to talk of all the Igbo groups combine.

afam4eva:

Yes there are other groups. Ndoni, Andoni, Ogoni, Ijaw(Okrika etc) but they are all minorities.

You have forgotten Kalabari - The Ikwerre nemesis in RV state!

Ikwerre should be bigger based on LGA (4) and Kalabari (3) BUT Population and Political Influence and even Area I think Ikwerre and Kalabari are at par.

ow11:

You have forgotten Kalabari - The Ikwerre nemesis in RV state!

Ikwerre should be bigger based on LGA (4) and Kalabari (3) BUT Population and Political Influence and even Area I think Ikwerre and Kalabari are at par.

You only have yourself to fool.

asha 80:

Abagworo what do you mean by self imposed marginalisation?

Here in rivers state the infighting amongst the political elite of okrika was not hidden.names like ada george and abiye sekibo were prominent in polical power tussle.the emergence of ateke tom and other militants in that zone had political undertone as well as greed and quest for control of the vast oil wealth and bunkering route.this lead to cheap wealth for the gangsters.the nigerian factor set in and lead vast no of youths into joining militancy for cheap wealth

afam4eva:

You only have yourself to fool.

Possibly. . .At least you live or have lived in PH and I suspect know little about the politics of RV state. Ikwerre may be a majority but not an overwhelming majority as you make it seem.


Before I derail this thread, Amaechi should stop his bullying tactics! What was he doing when Odili was using Ateke to pursue APP out of Okrika? Was it not because of Odili's beef with Ada George, He Amaechi as Odili's PA saw all the nonsense his boss did with waterside boys.

Is he not part of the problem with Odili. After arming the boys just to try to destroy all the stronghold Kalabari and Okrika people have on RV state. He should stop bullying us and bring his former boss to answer for his atrocities (Marshall Harry and O.K. Dikibo). Waterside have been existing for decades and did not know this kind of violence till Odili came into power

All this nonsense would not have happened if that silly Ewang had not rigged Odili in an election Isokariari won

The Igbo are the majority in Rivers State. I grew up in Rivers State and I know for a fact that the Igbo are the majority. 

Ikwerre are Igbo. No need to deny that. Port Harcourt is Igwe Ocha, no denying that.

EzeUche22:

The Igbo are the majority in Rivers State. I grew up in Rivers State and I know for a fact that the Igbo are the majority. 

True if you add Etche, Omuma, Oyigbo, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ahoada East to the Ikwerre (Ikwerre, Emohua, Port Harcourt and Obio Akpor). Those other LGAs are NOT Ikwerre and would not call them selves Ikwerre. They can however be classed as Igbo since their language is Igboid.

ow11:

True if you add Etche, Omuma, Oyigbo, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ahoada East to the Ikwerre (Ikwerre, Emohua, Port Harcourt and Obio Akpor). Those other LGAs are NOT Ikwerre and would not call them selves Ikwerre. They can however be classed as Igbo since their language is Igboid.

Even though their dialects are indeed different. I can understand what many of these people are saying even though it is not proper Igbo. Ikwerre is not hard to understand either. It is all IGBO to me.

ow11:

Waterside have been existing for decades and did not know this kind of violence till Odili came into power

Except for Ogoni-Okrika rampage at Bundu waterside and Creek Road market, you are correct.

Back then sef, Ikwerre ninjas give us more headache.

BTW, Ikwerres cannot be the most populous in Rivers State. Kalabari easily outnumber them, maybe Okrika sef.

Ibime:

Except for Ogoni-Okrika rampage at Bundu waterside and Creek Road market, you are correct.

Back then sef, Ikwerre ninjas give us more headache.

BTW, Ikwerres cannot be the most populous in Rivers State. Kalabari easily outnumber them, maybe Okrika sef.

All those Ikwerre funeral parades in the 80s were the only violent scenes we ever saw in PH. . . Nor mind all these boys equating living in one of the ubiquitous Rumus to knowing everything that goes on in RV state.