₦airaland Forum

Onitsha, Anambra state.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnMieDr__JU

Abagworo:
Drone shots of Douglas area, Wetheral roundabout and Bank road. Douglas is the brown roof area of Owerri.

Douglas is filled with brown roofs because the landlords failed to renovate or sell off their properties as being done in the other parts of the city.

sanctity454:
So my position on the ESN issues makes me unwise right?. Congratulations to you, I think it's quite unhealthy for an unwise person to share a table with the wise ones.
You can have this space for forever as the unwise sanctity454 bows out.

I don't have time for you and this is the last response I will give you. Continue with your wisdom until you jam with your see and that day it will consume you.

Do you know how many times we have run into bandits here in the north? The bandits are maintaining the exact point and location for the past five years and nothing meaningful has been done to stop it. When you fail to condemn evil the evil will live to consume. Bishop Hassan Kukah that has been shouting today supported Buhari against Goodluck but has seen like many other people. They killed his brother and his adopted son, Michael Nnadi, an Igbo seminarian.

Continue with your wisdom, Mr. Solomon but this problem the government is paying lip service to will live to consume you. Our brothers and sisters are being killed here in the north on monthly basis even news are not carrying it because that's part of the game and our leaders and people like you are not condemning it and when we complain, the much we can get from our leaders is come back home. Come home without proper plan.

From experience, fulanis are always happy whenever they hear that their men attack and sack a community. Pls Mr. Wisdom what is stopping Oga Buhari in using your phantom military might to crush them but always act in hasty to kill our unarmed citizens in the southeast who are feeling dissatisfied with the state of things in the polity.

eduj:
brother you have said it all !!!! our governor's want to be more patriotic than Nigeria itself. Check out ouk during objs tenure,rumour had it he resorted to financing obj's political projects in return for the presidency, he was betrayed and the rest is history. Ta.orji financed Gejs SE campaigns and was also disappointed- all this while Abia state was left to rot.
More examples ? Rochas betraying his people for Buhari -a man who has betrayed him.
Now we see Dave umahi,ikpeazu (who doesn't miss an opportunity to play the national anthem at any event,and place his hands on his chest), uzodinma and obiano.
This governor's have repeatedly thrown there people under the bus to prove loyalty to the North.And. what have the gained for it ?
By 2023 we will all know the results

Nwanne madu, you quoted me when I have not edited the post but no problem.

My brother, I am totally heartbroken because of the attitudes of our leaders and worst of it all the self acclaimed wise ones among us like the sanctity454 who I used to think is wise not knowing his real type. They will go online to condemn any step taken by our people to protect our lives and properties just to show their readers that they are wise and detribalised but have never asked themselves whether their fulani counterparts are replicating such gesture. Soon God will start disgracing them. Every successful struggle started like this, the ones they thought that will win did not win at last. Whether you fight the war now or tomorrow, you will still fight it because fulani will never allow you be as they believe that Nigeria belong to them and they must have their foot in and control of all the states of the federation.

You alleged that ESN is calling for war without considering the Nigerian military might but you failed to lend your voice in condemning the military and federal government who went to stop them without addressing the problem that led to its formation, you failed to condemn the military that turned to killing of unarmed innocent citizens in their shops and homes leaving the armed ESN personnels in the bush they came to confront. Where were they when fulanis were killing people in their land, where were they when fulanis were kidnapping people, where were they when fulanis gave Igbos quit notice and went as far as writing letter to UN to ask us to vacate their land or they will use our bloods and water their soil? This is the height of the insult because they took us as animals who can not protect themselves.

I don't know if this is a curse to Igbos and Nigeria at large. Fulanis will commit crime and nobody will condemn them but when someone take action against the crime everybody will start crucifying that person. Before the establishment of ESN were there no killing and destruction of farms in southeast. Bros I used to have this useless mindset but not anymore, to hell to anybody who supports this baseless one Nigeria.

Before coming to the north i spent considerable amount of my life in southeast. And I have compare and contrast and found out that Igbos have no consolers and defenders, we have no brother in this country but God and international communities will one day see truth in what we have been crying for and liberate us from it.

asha80:
what do you expect uzodinma to do though considering how he became governor?

Brother I don't want to take anything into consideration. Our leaders should stand up and protect our lives and properties both at home and outside. Goodluck Jonathan and Amb. Wali made Gov. Aminu Tambuwa what he is today but he left Goodluck Jonathan and protected his northern people's aganda. Our leaders and some of our self acclaimed wise people are the most foolish people I've never seen.

Small thing our governors will invite military to kill their people to show their Hausa/fulani friends that they are detribalised while their counterparts in the north don't do the same rather they use the strength of their youths to subjugate the whole nation. Fulanis have been killing, destroying and issuing threat and no arrest has been made or caution from any of their leaders. On Fridays go close to their mosques and hear how hateful and destructive their preaching can be, yet no invitation or arrest from police but only little criticism from Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah they threatened him to leave Sokoto, remember they killed his adopted son, an Igbo seminarian from Enugu state. Non of our Igbo leaders made any comment rather condemnation was coming from foreign countries.

Christians' (Igbos') goods (beers) and properties worth of tens of millions of naira are being destroyed not even a governor from southeast has asked question or directed the Kano state government the best way to go about it but let it be done to a fulani the next morning their leaders will visit or issue a threat to the governor of the state where the goods were being destroyed. They've killed our people on countless occasions in Kano, Minna, kaduna and Bornu state non of our governors or Ohaneze leadership did anything. Nowadays they have resorted into kidnapping our buses coming from the east or going to the east non of the governors in the various northern states have come out openly to condemn the act or partake in paying of ransom for the release of the Igbo captives or even invite military as our governors are doing to search for the captives and the kidnappers. The best the northern governors can do is to deny that such thing ever happened even when the evidence is everywhere and our useless governors and leaders will believe them and blame us in the north for lying that such incidence happened.

Do you know how many of our people who were killed because they could not pay ransom? That's why every southeastern state associations have constituted welfare committees for bailing of their people kidnapped by fulani bandits. Infact, most of us here are tired of contributing money but you can't let your people die in the hands of the kidnappers, it may be you tomorrow. And our governors have never for once come in to help us or suggest the way forward to the host governor.

My heart always bleeds whenever I remember how good, resilient, intelligent and hard-working Igbos are treated in this country even from their own. They can't give us job and when we struggle, pass through hells and make it, they will still not allow us rest. Do you know how many prominent Igbos that were killed in Sokoto alone just between October and December? Oga nze was killed because when they kidnapped his wife and children they demanded 2million which the old man provided, his offence was that he removed N5,000 from it to compliment his transport fee. They beat him until he died, they gave the wife and children his corpse.

The reason why ESN was established has it been addressed? You did not go for the criminals rather the people protecting themselves against the criminals. No fulani governor has come out to condemn fulani activities rather they support them and issue threat to anyone trying to stop them. A governor in the north said it one certain time that whoever has killed fulani before whether a security man will definitely pay back with a blood. Another fulani leader justified their kidnapping and banditary activities by saying that they are doing it because government fails to provide jobs. Then the question is, if all the youths from other tribes join kidnapping how will Nigeria thrives?

Why today their governors are condemning banditary activities in the northwest is because it is affecting their people the most. Had it been it is affecting only other tribes they will equally deny that there is nothing like banditary and protect their fulani youths who are perpetrating such negative acts. Go to southern kaduna, Benue and plateau and see how fulanis killed, sacked and occupied other people's land and nothing has been done.

Northern leaders see their youths and masses as their strength while our leaders believe that killing their own people to please their northwestern friends will give them the needed strength not knowing that no Hausa-fulani person will take them as friends because their religion condemns that. They are always seen and known as infidels (kafiri/kayeri). They will only give them presidency when they see that the country is very hot and the youths from other areas are very angry and are ready for war. Yoruba leaders understood this game while our Igbos leaders are idiots and unintelligent.

Fulanis are not invincible as people think, fulanis are the most fearful and cowards in the whole of Nigeria. People that only attack at the night when their opponents are sleeping and in the day call their brothers in military to protect them, what does that thing show you? No fulani will have the liver to confront you face to face. When they shake you and you shake them back they will leave you forever. They can't fight on their own without seeking or hiring fighters from other African tribes. They are very wicked and can't let go but at the same time, cowards. It's Nigerians and leaders that are giving them the space for all these nonsense.

Tell our leaders in the east if they can not fight and defend us we will start fighting for ourselves even here in the north. Whatever plans ESN has for us should equally be extended to the north secretly to defend our people here. I will always pray for them to succeed

I have always supported and wished for true one Nigeria, I have supported Hausa-fulani and Apc government, I have loved fulanis when I did not know them but now I have lived, worked and interacted with them and know that there's no future for this country, injustice and imbalance everywhere. The one Nigeria slogan is a lip service. I have acquired so many certificates and with my rational mind and instinct I will say it without fear or favour that Nigeria does not have future and should be disintegrated.

Those of us here who are supporting what's happening in southeast because they want to be seen as the wise men should go back to school or better still help me to tell their parents to go to their schools (from primary to tertiary schools) and demand for the refund of the money they spent because they are educated illiterates.

The learned whites say: the only thing that is needed for evil to thrive is for the wise and good ones to remain silent.

Abagworo:
The Orluzurumee has spoken out without fear or favour on the issue. Uzodinma himself is from Orlu, Okorocha from Orlu, Udenwa from Orlu, Idiga from Orlu and so many influential men in thousands. It will be a shame if they keep mute while Orlu is turned to a militancy zone.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0FfpXwk1jE

Good for them. But southeastern governors are disgrace to our human race.

I am really short of words, things like this can not happen in the north. Igbos are like sheep without a herder no one fights for us. Uzodimma is even encouraging them to kill more. It was because of fulani herdsmen menace that ESN was established, the federal government has not done anything to stop herdsmen carrying gun and disturbing the peace of the people but always in hasty to crush any security outfit established by the local people to protect their lives and land against the fulani herdsmen.

God is always with the Igbos and shall fight for us. ESN shall stand strong and defeat all the forces coming to southeast to ferment trouble.

eduj:
I don't know about that one. I think focus I being given on the ngwa-ph road axis and also the osisioma flyover

Good one

ChimaAdeoye:
Nnwanne,

I was raised in Aba. I lived on Crystal park hotel junction, Akalanna street and later on Ekenna str off Okigwe road when i worked in the old Absuth site. Now reverted to Aba General hospital. I said all these just to make you understand that i'm not one of those you can fool in Aba. Abum KOMPLETE NwaAba!

Back to my question: (Let me explain the bearing so you'll totally understand where i'm asking about).

If you stand on Eziukwu road behind the Aba General Hospital (Old Absuth) facing Osusu railroad (Ama Ogbonna) & Osusu market,
1. On your Right Eziukwu road leads to Milverton junction, to ASA road (That is the part you are showing)
2. On your Left Eziukwu road continues until its junction with Ehi road, Cameroon road (That is the part I am asking)

The part of Eziukwu road that you are showing has remained motorable but bad. The part of Eziukwu road that i am asking has remained impassable for many years. My question is whether it has been fixed.

Let me quickly add that i'm so grateful that Governor Okezie is finally fixing internal roads in Aba and working on drainages to help reduce flooding and elongate the lifespan of the roads. I am completely grateful to him. But he shouldn't relent. A lot more needs to be done to return Aba to its former glory.

You are the one contradicting things here. The earlier statement you made which he corrected is totally wrong. I was totally confused with the post. I understood his very well which he stated that the Eziukwu road section from no.1 Azikiwe road that connects cemetery road is still under construction.

Mind you Eziukwu road ends at Okigwe road roundabout, the other section that connects Bata, opposite Mr. Biggs is factory road. Miverton road connects with factory road. On the Eziukwu road, if you are going to no.1 Azikiwe road from Amaogbonna junction the 1st and only junction you will see is Jubilee road junction. The section of Eziukwu that connects with Ehi road is still under construction as he stated here which I observed that they are equally extending it to cemetery road.

eduj:
does Eziukwu road connect to Ehi road ? I think you meant Azikwe road.The road running across the old Mr biggs (close to Bata) is factory road.Absuth is at umueze ,what is close to eziukwu is the ABA general hospital.
The portion of eziukwu road commissioned yesterday is the part from factory road to No1 okigwe road,along with the adjoining milverton and ojike lane.
The part of eziukwu road running along ama-ogbonna) No1 okigwe road, all the way to azikwe road is under construction ( the covered drains has been completed). They are doing that section of the road all the way to cemetery market.
Hope I helped a little ?

If they can finally connect the road to cemetery road it will be very cool. Is there any plan to reconstruct cemetery road?

WorWorBoy:
I don't claim where i don't belong to,i am from Okrika no Okrikans man or woman alike like to associate themselves with igbo no one. Igbos are the ones who like to tag Okrikans with igbo every damn time, just like you are doing now with patience Jonathan i wonder why!
It is you igbos who are deceiving yourselves, Okrikans who fought against igbos durning the war are now igbos? Lmao dose it sound normal to you? lol
As for patientce Jonathan speaking igbo, we are still saying the same thing, she learnt it from her mother. Okrikans don't speak igbo! Any Okrikans who speaks igbos learn the language! There are no communities in Okrika who speaks igbo.
Igbos rule over Okrikans? in your dreams.

We Okrikans are ijaws, we don't have anything in common with igbos who are drug lords, fraudsters, human traffickers, prostitutes, ritualist(Otokto), product of baby factories, and one chance criminals.

Ijaws commit more crimes than the Igbos, don't claim as if you don't know or are you not from Nigeria?. Apart from politicians from Ijaw land tell me any other useful Ijaw man that made his money from genuine business. What is the known business of the Ijaws apart from gun trafficking, arm rubbing, kidnapping, oil bunkering, drug trafficking, pipeline vandalism and ritualism. Don't come here and talk rubbish, everybody in the whole of southern Nigeria knows how rough the ijaws are, a place where criminals and militants are crowned kings is what? Lawless place. In the context of prostitution please don't go there, your women are the worst. Why do 70% of ijaws like marrying Igbos and other tribes? It's because your women are very loose and can't stay with one man.

He has done well. But how are we sure it will reach the pocket of the affected?

ijawcitizen:
Your leprous igbo fingers have nothing on Okrika people.

We have already begun the pruning of the igbo leprous hold on Ndokiland. Igbo cultural parasitism is a prowling virus that must be crushed.

To many ethnic nationalities have lost territories to igbo cultural parasitism. Ijaw nation has risen, expect the Ibibios, igalas, Idoma, etc to reclaim their stolen territories from Igboland soon, then we shall know what is left of your igbo land or biafra.

Ijaws when will you stop this your land grabbing mindset, everything in Rivers state must be Ijaw even when they are speaking another language with different culture?

The holes you are digging today will definitely consume you.

The dichotomy has been used by the upland to achieve their goal and can now be discarded.

It was Dr. Peter Odili, who as governor made the first announcement that there was no more Upland and Riverine in Rivers State. Ironically, Odili was the first beneficiary of the Upland/Riverine dichotomy in the New Rivers State who was supported to be governor on the basis of the Upland/Riverine rotation principle.

Angry, Rivers Ijaw leaders told Governor Odili that “Nobody can abrogate the Upland/Riverine divide by fiat when the overwhelming disparity in development and the lopsided distribution of amenities stare us in the face; our diverse languages, mangroves, mud skippers and periwinkles define us as a distinct people”.

Governor Nyesom Wike in April this year, while speaking with the organizers of Zik Leadership Prize Award, declared that one of the greatest achievements of his administration is the elimination of the upland/riverine dichotomy which he said plagued the state in the past. He said “In this state before, all you see and hear was tribalism; that you are from the upland, you are from the riverine and so people were not doing things as if we are one Rivers.


“So, we felt that, one way we can make progress is if we see ourselves as one and once that is done, then we have moved to the next step. So today, our concern is that the issue of upland/riverine is no longer necessary”.

Another Ikwerre man who is the Publicity Secretary of the Rivers State chapter of PDP and Chairman of Ikwerre LGA, Samuel Nwanosike said Gov. Nyesom Wike has changed the aged-long riverine/upland dichotomy, which hindered development. Speaking to newsmen he said that “Today, you cannot differentiate between the riverine and the upland because everywhere is connected by roads, credit to Nyesom Wike and nobody can change that vision” (Sun Newspaper March 19, 2018).

Yet another Ikwerre man who is the Rivers State Director of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Oliver Wolugbom said that those who are still propagating the riverine/upland sentiment are not only dwelling in the past but are also unfair to the state. Mr. Wolugbom described such persons as selfish opportunists who do not mean well for the state and its people, insisting that what had limited the progress and development of the state was this issue that pitched Rivers people against themselves and did not engender unity and collective action towards advancement.

Now that Ikwerre domination has replaced Ijaw domination, they say that there is no more need for the upland/riverine dichotomy.



Benefits of the Upland/Riverine Dichotomy

Engr. Beks Dagogo-Jack captured the essence of the principle of Upland/Riverine dichotomy when he said that “the principle was never a divisive phrase as it is currently being labeled. This principle was unanimously agreed upon, introduced and applied across board on all such critical areas as scholarship awards, rural roads, sitting of health and education institutions with a conscious program to bridge the gap and seek a more even spread of development across the state.

“It was applied as a unifying balancing tool to achieve inclusiveness and even spread of development. It was the single most potent peace and unity device. The clear noble aim underlying this principle was to achieve a fair, equitable, integrated and balanced development of the State”.

To instill the spirit of belonging and equality and inclusiveness, when a Riverine (Ijaw) man is governor, the deputy is chosen from the Upland and vice versa. The office of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Secretary to Government, Head of Service etc. rotate between the Upland and the Riverine (Ijaw).

In accordance with the Upland/Riverine principle of rotation, prominent Riverine (Ijaw) leaders led by Alabo T.O. Graham-Douglas and the late Dr. Marshall Harry spearheaded the election of Governor Peter Odili, an Upland person in 1999.

Now that Ikwerre domination has replaced Ijaw domination, they say that upland/riverine dichotomy should be abrogated and in fact never existed

Since 1999 and especially when Ikwerre assumed political dominance in 2007, there have been concerted efforts to abrogate the upland/riverine dichotomy which was created as a result of the outcry of the upland and implemented by the founding fathers as a veritable mechanism for inclusiveness and stability in a multi-ethnic Rivers State. The upland has used the benefits of the dichotomy to achieve its goal and now calls for its abrogation by ridiculing and stigmatizing the upland/riverine dichoyomy.

How did Ikwerre turn the table against Ijaw?

Again we rely on excerpts from Ochereome Nnanna’s article ‘Rebisi in history’ which is most revealing. He wrote:

“It was agreed that as the touted largest Minority group, the Ijaw needed a state of their own. But with their emotional attachment to Port Harcourt, how would Rivers State be split without creating a permanent ethnic war front in Nigeria’s premier oil city?

“With the Ijaw groups obviously being favoured by the Northern-led Federal Government, Eze Woluchem, a lawyer who was installed paramount ruler of Port Harcourt in 1977 turned to Dr Azikiwe, appealing for him to support the aspirations of his Igbo kinsmen in the struggle. An ageing “Zik” referred the Eze’s delegation to Commodore Ukiwe, who had become Zik’s close political confidant. The Eze’s delegation of four, which included the late Chief Okogbule Wonodi and Chief Andrew Uchendu, met with Ukiwe in his office in Victoria Island.

“Their proposal was that Port Harcourt State should only be for Igbo-speaking Rivers people, while the Ijaw-speaking part would be named New Rivers State. On the other hand, the Kalabaris did not want to be parted with Rivers State, neither did the Okrikas, and Ukiwe advised that it would be “unstrategic” to cut out Bonny, Opobo, Kalabari and Okrika, apart from the fact that the Head of State, General Abacha, who was pro-Ijaw, might be pushed not to create any new state at all.

“Between Ukiwe and the Ikwerre delegation, and taking into account the expressed needs of others, the maps of the present Rivers State and Bayelsa State were drawn and presented to Abacha, who found it acceptable.


Gen. Abacha, created Bayelsa and subjugated Rivers Ijaw

“On October 1, 1996, General Abacha included Bayelsa as one of the six new states approved by the Provisional Ruling Council, PRC. The postulations put together by Ukiwe and the Rebisi’s delegates worked like magic. Today the Ijaws have a state of their own with a capital (Yenagoa) which is being styled the “Jerusalem of the Ijaw Nation”. The Igbo-speaking groups in Rivers State also have a state in which they constitute a comfortable majority and have led since 1999”.

Upland political leaders created the dichotomy

Documented evidence supports the fact that upland political leaders led by the late Dr. Obi Wali and the late Ken Saro-Wiwa used the Upland/Riverine divide as a defining terminology to describe the Ijaws and their Mainland co-indigenes in the old Rivers State. They used this definitive terminology as a campaign tool against the perceived domination of the upland by the riverine-Ijaws in the affairs of the old Rivers State. It was a concept coined out of protest.

Ken Saro Wiwa said this much when he wrote that:

“With the war ended, and as a Commissioner in Rivers State, I soon found that the Rivers State for which I had fought did not end my nightmare. In the first place, oil money from Ogoni country (as well as Ijaw country) was being carted away to Lagos, leaving the Ogoni illiterate and backward. This is anti-federalism.


Ken Saro-Wiwa, agitated against Ijaw domination barely four years after the creation of Rivers State

“Worse still, the Ijaws were taking their frustrations out on the non-Ijaws of the State. For the Ijaws alone number more than the eight other ethnic groups in Rivers State put together. Though historically disunited, the Ijaws find unity when it comes to lording if over the non-Ijaws. The Ijaws will want to perpetuate this. Today, there is not even a Commissioner from my Local Government Area in the Rivers State Cabinet. My dilemma as an Ogoni is not about to end.

“Lost in this dreadful nightmare, I went in 1971 to see Chief Awolowo at the Federal Ministry of Finance. There was nothing I told the sage that he was not aware of. He showed me his writings on the issue and bade me seek the mid-Southern State he had proposed in 1966. Thus, was the quest for a Port Harcourt State begun. In 1974, when we started, there was no shortage of opponents. To the Ijaws, I became a traitor. The creation of this State would alleviate my nightmare”.

It is noteworthy that this complaint by Ken Saro Wiwa in 1971 was made barely four years after the creation of Rivers State in 1967; and Governor Diette-Spiff had only relocated from Lagos to Port Harcourt in 1968 to establish a government in which Ken Saro Wiwa was a Commissioner after he had served as the Administrator of Bonny.

Another documented evidence is Ochereome Nnanna’s article ‘Rebisi in history’ in which he said that:

“When the civil war started in 1967 and Biafra lost control of Port Harcourt to the Federal forces, the newly created Rivers State was handed over to the Ijaw. Ijaw leaders continued to maintain that Rivers State, with Port Harcourt as its capital, was created for them as reward for ceding their coastal terrain to the Federal side, thus making the sea blockade of Biafra possible. The Ijaw groups claimed to constitute the majority and continued to dominate the state both during military and civilian dispensations. With time, however, the Igbo speaking people of the state, particularly the Ikwerre nationality, decided they wanted a state of their own where they would be able to assert their own political and economic interests. This was what led to the quest for the creation of Port Harcourt State”.


Dr. Obi Wali agitated for a Port Harcourt State

Again it is noteworthy that an Ikwerre political leader, Dr. Obi Wali was at the forefront for the agitation of Port Harcourt State, protesting the perceived domination of the upland by the Ijaws.

Consequent upon the crisis created by the agitation for a Port Harcourt State and the disunity it was causing among the people, the political leadership at the time, came up with the principle of rotation based on the upland/riverine dichotomy to ensure equity and harmonious co-existence amongst the Upland and Riverine (Ijaw) people of old Rivers State. This was the advent of a deliberate sharing formula for major elective and appointive positions among the Upland and Riverine people of the state.

For example, when a Riverine (Ijaw) man is governor, the deputy is chosen from the Upland and vice versa. The office of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Secretary to Government, Head of Service etc. rotate between the Upland and the Riverine (Ijaw).

Obi Wali and Ken Saro-Wiwa Created the Upland/Riverine Dichotomy
23
0 Sotonye Ijuye-Dagogo August 22, 2018 4:19 pm
Obi Wali and Ken Saro-Wiwa Created the Upland/Riverine Dichotomy

Introduction: There have been efforts by selfish and deceitful politicians to distort history and becloud the minds of young and/or uninformed member

Introduction:

There have been efforts by selfish and deceitful politicians to distort history and becloud the minds of young and/or uninformed members of the populace about the term upland/riverine dichotomy; its origin; its purpose and its implementation.

More than 60% of the people that constitute the current Rivers State population were born after the creation of Rivers State in 1967 and may not be quite aware of the history behind the upland/riverine dichotomy. Unfortunately, history is no more taught as a subject in our secondary schools.

In the beginning, there was nothing like dichotomy in the nomenclature of Rivers State and our people lived in one united entity. This was corroborated by Chief A.K. Horsfall, the Sekuro I of Kalabri, when he said, that “during the struggle for the creation of Rivers State, all the debates and discussions centered around a united and all-inclusive Rivers State, it was not a Rivers State of Riverine and Upland; not a Rivers State of Ogoni, Kalabari, Ikwerre or whatever. The Rivers State that our founding fathers dreamt of, was a united and strong entity of a group of people sharing one political vision, cultural background etc. Unfortunately, that is not the situation today”.

After the creation of Rivers State in 1967 and especially after the Nigerian Civil War of 1967-1970, Rivers people lived largely in unity and harmony. This was due to their long history of interaction and coexistence which was strengthened by the common struggle against oppression and marginalization. This peaceful atmosphere engendered the rapid development of the state capital, Port Harcourt under the military administration of Navy Commander Alfred Diete-Spiff.

This harmony was shattered during the twilight of Governor Diete-Spiff’s administration when he reshuffled his cabinet and dropped seven Commissioners. Incidentally the dropped Commissioners were from the Mainland section of the state, including Dr. Obi Wali and Ken Saro Wiwa of blessed memory. These Commissioners ganged up and fought back vigorously, claiming victimization and marginalization against what they called the “Upland” section of the state. This gave birth to the concept of Upland and Riverine segregation and led to the agitation for the creation of a Port Harcourt State.

Sinistami:
hmmm can you give me links to where I'd find these?

Ok

http://plannerladyreality.com/gbu0me7x?srwcms=64&refer=https%3A%2F%2Friversijawvoice.com.ng%2F2018%2F08%2F22%2Fobi-wali-and-ken-saro-wiwa-created-the-upland-riverine-dichotomy%2F&kw=%5B%22obi%22%2C%22wali%22%2C%22and%22%2C%22ken%22%2C%22saro-wiwa%22%2C%22created%22%2C%22the%22%2C%22upland%22%2C%22riverine%22%2C%22dichotomy%22%2C%22-%22%2C%22rivers%22%2C%22ijaw%22%2C%22voice%22%5D&key=e2897ab4f85e4238f9b7bc3b9e3e36e7&scrWidth=320&scrHeight=640&tz=1&v=20.7.v.1&res=7.229&dev=r&uuid=88bf2e0a-5df3-477b-b3f2-7090b82ad369%3A3%3A1&adb=n

B2mario:
Hmmmm, Ijaw of yesterday is older than Igbo. There's nothing we can not see on nairaland. What is the overall population of the original Ijaw? Does Ijaw have one language? Substrate the population of Okirika, Kalabari, Opobo, Bonny, Andoni and Ndoki-igbo population scattered all over the Niger delta, what is the population of Ijaw as a tribe or better still what is the population of Bayelsa state which is the only known Ijaw land/state?

Stop deceiving yourself, Ijaw is a tribeless group.

Some of the Ijaws know the family they migrated from in Sierra Leone. Please don't allow us to open your yansh.

ijawcitizen:
Stupidity at its peak from an ignorance relishing fellow.

Find the location of your igbo language around benue-congo.

We are not your mates, Ijo language is far older than igbo language.

Hmmmm, Ijaw of yesterday is older than Igbo. There's nothing we can not see on nairaland. What is the overall population of the original Ijaw? Does Ijaw have one language? Substrate the population of Okirika, Kalabari, Opobo, Bonny, Andoni and Ndoki-igbo population scattered all over the Niger delta, what is the population of Ijaw as a tribe or better still what is the population of Bayelsa state which is the only known Ijaw land/state?

Stop deceiving yourself, Ijaw is a tribeless group.

Ijaw was last ethnic group to come to the southern Nigeria which is not far from this recent time. The land they are occupying today was a land rejected by the Igbos, Ibibios, Urhobos and itsekiris. In the 17 century there was nothing like ijaws. They came as fishermen and established their fishing camps at the coast of Rivers and married women from the host tribes, the Igbos, Ibibios, Urhobos and itsekiri.

Initially they were building their houses on top of water which made their host to care less about their occupation, later they started occupying the creek which their host rejected due to its swampy nature. Gradually, they started moving hinterlands and claiming unoccupied land. Today, they are claiming some clans from their host ethnic groups that are located at the fringes of their land. Now they want to claim Ndoki tribe of the Igbos so as to gain ground since they heard that Ndoki is proven to be the earliest clan to occupy what is known today as Niger Delta.

We need to wake up against this Ijaw movement.

Nchenches:
Bros, if Owerri-centric persons like you lead Imo state for another 16 years after Owerri-centric Rochas Okorocha, that Owerri shall become a shithole of a city. Go to Irete, Egbeada, Naze, Egbu, etc areas of Owerri to see urban squalors due to population influx to Owerri from the rest of Imo state. We need to stop this Owerri madness people in Imo state before they drive the state aground. Pray for redistribution of government development projects to Orlu and other parts of the state where there is nothing, so as to check migration to Owerri from rest of the state.

You don’t go to any state anywhere in the world and what is talked about the state’s development process is 99% for state capital. Even clowns can’t talk like that.

Already, too many urban ghettos litter all over Owerri due to population influx to Owerri from the other parts of Imo state denied basic development projects of government now concentrated in Owerri.

Guy, Rochas was not Owerri centric, he developed other parts of Imo state, starting from Orlu, Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, Umuka, Ideato north and south, Obowo, Mbaitolu, Mbaise to Okigwe. Though I will not deny the fact that he gave much attention to Owerri but he also did his best in other parts of imo state compared to other governors. He constructed many rural roads. Have you seen the primary and secondary schools in the rural areas? have you seen the markets in the rural areas? What of the Malaysia market in Obowo LGA or is Obowo now part of Owerri?

Stop believing everything you read online many people here can lie. Who attracted
the refinery and the gas plant in Egbema? who built the Orlu and Okigwe stadia? Who built the eastern palm university, Ogoko; who built the school of nursing and health technology, Okporo; and other higher institution facilities located outside Owerri city?

Beforee now most of us online believed that Owerri has bad roads as demonstrated here. But the video posted by Abagworo yesterday proved that Owerri is still retaining it's glory as one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria. Rochas Okorocha did well and Hope Uzodimma is also trying to keep the city on track, though he might have his lapses but I think we should not judge him now, he is doing his best to keep the city clean and also reconstructing some of the failed roads.

I saw in the video the extension of the dualization of portharcourt road, the beautiful outlook of Douglas road which used to be the worst road in Owerri. Also in another video about Sam Mbakwe international cargo airport I saw that work is still ongoing on the dualization of Owerri-Aba road meaning that Uzodimma did not abandoned most of Rochas' projects as being portrayed on nairaland.

My candid suggestion, Uzodimma should clean up that dual-carriage road that leads to Rochas foundation college which connects the two Owerri flyovers, extend the Okigwe 8-lanes road to Orji town, finish the multi storey car park at Douglas road, finish the centenary multi-storey building, finish the dualization of owerri road, Orlu; create more dual carriage roads in Orlu, extend the dualization of Nkwerre, Orlu to Nkwerre; and create new towns in Owerri, Orlu, Okigwe and Oguta.

He can do it, Imo has the resources. One of the richest states in Nigeria.

BastardWike:
Ignorant village man, Imo State is the 5th biggest state in Nigeria in terms of GDP! That was even before the refinery was built, and by the time the massive gas and petrochemical plants take off, Imo State will become the 4th!!

Imo State airport records the 4th highest number passengers in Nigeria, after Lagos, Abuja and P.H. If the state is not viable and developing, it wouldn't be so!!

Owerri is the fastest growing city in the East, and among the fastest in Nigeria! It has been growing at almost 40,000 people per annum!!

In terms of property development, Owerri has a fast growing property sector that is only second to Abuja in Nigeria! If the city is now thriving, it won't be so!!

The only setback affecting Owerri is mediocre government that is performing below par. If we can have good roads and covered drains, Owerri would be competing with Abuja now.

I love the evidence you showed below

ABlAstate:
That thing you posted is nonsense, can Owerri or any part of Imo state at all have this type of neat/clean road infrastructure? This is Awka

This road looks substandard and rough. All you have been showing us here is this road and Awka flyover. Are they the only development Anambra has?

NwaforIgbo:
DOn't mind those idiots.. They can only decieve fools not sane minded individuals... If you ask them to show you evidence they will tell you that not all billinaires put their money in the bank... Like WTF!??

That's it my brother.

Osagyefo98:
Ijaws should allow Igbos rest Abeg.

What's all this

My brother tell the land grabbers. They have finished with Rivers state, they are now coming for Abia state soon they will start claiming Oguta, Egbema, Ohaji and Orlu in Imo state.

custainmowole:
See more of Owerri motorpark airport. Cars are landing at the airport. See environment like animal farm hahahaha

See the current state of Owerri international cargo airport, stop posting this rubbish you have been recycling.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrk_LQptxnA

huncho22:
imo state has cheap prostitutes ?
what about abia state where u can Bleep a prostitute with just 200 naira ..

if they are taking the prostitutes to other states why are hotels in owerri filled up during Xmas period ?

Guy please don't go that area. Is like you are new on nairaland. All the monikers you have been quoting are one person. He will still open another one bearing imo and attack you. Someone from Abia state can not be tarnishing Abia state the way he did using the his Abia moniker.

Just face him and the Anambra people that have failed to caution him.

custainmowole:
Huncho22, mention just one writer from your backward Imo state that's at the same ranking with Chimamanda. Lol. Anambra is not your state mate

Prof. Pat Acholonu
Prof. Catherine Acholonu
Chris Anyanwu
Flora Nwapa etc.

Imo state is the most educated state in the whole of west Africa. They don't make noise or brag like ndi Anambra. They started going to school in the 12 centuries before the coming of the Portuguese. Mind you Nnewi the most educated and progressive place in Anambra used to be under Orlu.

NwaforIgbo:
1. The best jointly State-owned hotel in Anambra is Agulu Lake Hotel, can you compare it with Concord Hotels?
2. Can you compare any hotel in Anambra with Rento Hotel?
3. Imo is among the top five Richest State...
4. Oweri beats all Anambra cities hands down in resilience, neatness, comfortability, classy buildings, classy govt. facilities... Imo has great potential than Anambra which is littered with illitrates traders who brag about being billinaires without having concrete evidence..

I agree with you.
They brag about being billionaires without having concrete evidence. With exception of Nnewi people everyother ones are brag poor men. Their touted richest Igbo, Arthur Eze is not a billionaire, he is not even up to 200million dollars based on recent investigation, no known business or investment, no known popular property like some of the billionaire Imolites like Arthur Nzeribe, Festus Odimegwu, Tony Ezenna (orange drugs), Marcel Nnakwe, Leo Stanley Eke, Pascal Dozie, Rochas Okorocha, ABC Orjiakor, Chinedu Echeruo, Felix Chidi Idiga, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu etc. His people went to internet and hike his networth to 8 billion dollars while the known 2nd and 3rd richest men in Nigeria, Adenuga and Otedola are 4 and 1.8 billion dollars respectively. No Anambra man made the Forbes list of billionaires like Arthur Nzeribe (1.4 billion dollars)
Chinedu Echeruo (1 billion dollars)
Leo Stanley Eke
Pascal Dozie and
Rochas Okorocha

AdaFonju:
The Leadership of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Eastern Zone ably led by the Capacity Chairman Comrade Sammy George made an historic visit to Ndoki Kingdom for meeting with the Chiefs and the Traditional Rulers both from Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State,Ukwa East LGA of Abia State and Ukanafun LGA of Akwa Ibom State.

The Historic Meeting in preparation for the IYC Ndoki Clan inauguration was well attended by Chiefs, the Vice Chairman Ukwa East LGA Of Abia State and the following Royal Majesties.

HRM EZE S.N NWAEKE JP
ONONANKWUME VI, OMUIHUEZE 1, CHAIRMAN OF OYIGBO LGA COUNCIL OF TRADITIONAL RULERS.

HRM EZE IKEAGWUCHI EKEKE.
CHAIRMAN UKWA EAST LGA COUNCIL OF TRADITIONAL RULERS OF ABIA STATE.

HRM EZE I.O NWANKWO.
SECRETARY UKWA EAST LGA COUNCIL OF TRADITIONAL RULERS.

HRM EZE DAMINABO JOSHUA

DR IDA FELIX WABOSO

CHIEF FIDELIS NWAOCHA
THE TRADITIONAL PRIME MINISTER OF UMU IHUEEZE CLAN

CHIEF FRIDAY ONYEUKWU

AND HON CHIZOBE ONWUNWANNE
THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF UKWA EAST LGA OF ABIA STATE.

It was indeed an historic moment filled with boundless joys and fulfilment as been expressed by their Majesties reuniting the Ndoki Clan to their Ijaw Root.

HRM Eze S.N Nwaeke JP, the Chairman of Oyigbo Council of Traditional Rulers and the Most Senior of all the Traditional Rulers of Ndoki Clan in his words while expressing his deepest gratitude to the facilitators of the Reunion and the IYC Ndoki Clan Inauguration said " now I have what to tell my Ancestors when I finally join them".

Both leaders of Ndoki Clan and the IYC Eastern Zone delegation agreed to do the formal inauguration of IYC Ndoki Clan on the 10th of May before 2019 ISAAC BORO'S DAY 16th MAY to enable them prepare for their full participation in celebration of the NIGER DELTA LEGENDARY REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER, MAJOR ISAAC JASPER ADAKA BORO.

Comrade Sammy George Chairman IYC Eastern Zone with his Council and Elders are indeed rebuilding the Broken Ancient Landmarks that ones bounded our Forebears as ONE UNITED IJAW.

#WERISE.


cc; mynd44, lalasticlala

Ijaw madness is crossing boundary. Why do the always like to attach themselves to Igbo clans? Can't them stay on their own for once?

custainmowole:
[s][/s]

I am from Imo, but truth be told Anambra is the origin of igbo land.

They have come, useless people from the Westland to do what they know best. Disunity and comparison using Anambra due to its proud nature and porosity.