Metro
New Face Of Ikoku Auto-Parts Market: The Pains, Gains
As one approaches the popular Ikoku junction by Azikiwe Street in Mile Two Diobu, the new flyover crisscrosses the eyes. But underneath the new flyover still under construction are pockets of people standing on both sides of the road seeking for brisk business- they are the motor spare parts dealers.
Since after they were relocated from their stores and shops sometime last year, the motor and spare parts dealers at Ikoku area are now common sights around the area, as they hang along the road waiting for customers.
They cluster in pockets of five to 10 persons, chatting and sprinting to meet any upcoming vehicle near the adjoining streets of Adelabu, Emole, Okereke, Nwachukwu up to Echue Streets along Ikwerre Road.
One of the motor spare parts dealers, Chibuzor Isaac told The Metro Tide that since after they were removed from their former area at Ikoku, many of them have resorted to survival tactics of standing along the road to wait for customers.
Isaac said, “It has not been easy with business since we were given quit notice. Many of our customers could not locate us again, so we hang on the road to survive.”
He narrated the ordeal of many of his fellow motor spare parts dealers, “Sometimes you stay here all through without a customer”.
In the wake of the urban renewal plans and acquisition of some buildings by investors along the Ikoku area, most of the spare parts dealers lost their goods.\
Isaac said, “Some had to send their families back to the village as a way of survival”.
The Tide Metro learnt that the old buildings acquired by investors were owned by different families and hence, many of the spare parts dealers who had paid rent for shops had to look for new places to get shops, unfortunately, it did not take long when the final quit notice was given by the State Government as the State Executive Council gave approval for a new flyover at the area.
Kingsley Amadi, who was affected by the relocation told The Metro Tide that it was difficult to find his feet initially.” Ikoku has been the heart of motor spare parts business for almost 50 years, “he said.
Amadi said he now hangs in other shops since he could not afford money to rent a new shop. For him, squatting with another businessman is not easy, “As I talk to you now, my goods are scattered. It is difficult to get daily bread and to send money home to my wife and children “.
He disclosed that many of them have to do joint renting of shops to keep business afloat.
The experience of Onyekachi Nnabugwo is quite interesting. He told Metro Tide that he moved thrice. “Initially when our landlord sold his property, I had to look for another shop in Azikiwe. While at Azikiwe for three months, we were asked to leave for the new flyover and the shop was marked for demolition.”
Nnabugwo now stays in one small plaza in School Road, few metres from Azikiwe Street. “I am trying to balance,” he said smiling, but all thanks to God”.
Nnabugwo lamented that he had lost many of his customers, “Many of them do not know I am here, and I do not have their contacts.”
Just few shops from Nnabugwo’s is another popular gear box and motor parts dealer, whose name is Friday Phillip, (aka Fryo). His shop which serves as a workshop is busier than most others.
He said, “We never believed that things will be like this, but we thank God we are surviving.”
Phillip said the relocation “brought some good sides as well, Yes, many of us lost customers, we have also gained customers.”
He urged his fellow motor spare parts dealers to keep on persisting, “ we all need to cope,” he advised.
At Owhonda Street, off School Road, business seems to be moving for the generator and spare parts dealers and repairs. One of such is Okereke Daniel, who said “here is congested because many of our brothers from Ikoku came to join us here”.
Since Ikoku Spare Parts Market was removed, the adjoining streets from Ohonda, Ihute, Odunze and Dickson Streets are much busier and congested.
The axis stretching to Mile 3 area is now a beehive of activities. According to Okereke, shop rents have gone up. “Before the demolition, you can rent a shop for N100,000, but now it is from N200, 000.”
As shop owners make brisk money from the relocation, many spare parts dealers have relocated as far as Ada George, Aba Road while some have moved into streets in Mile 2, Diobu.
“The new trend now in order to survive is through phone,” said Okereke. You have to build new customers by keeping their contacts. I will urge my fellow businessmen to learn to survive.”
Nnabugwo is also optimistic,” there is no need of giving up, a man can fall seven times and also rise seven times”.
The motor spare parts dealer urged government to provide a permanent site for them, so as to reduce their hardship.
One elderly spare parts dealer, who begged not to be mentioned, insisted that one way to reduce their pains is to provide them a permanent site; “We thought government will give us a place to relocate to, but till now nothing is being done”.
Even amid the pains, new businesses are sprouting up: restaurants, drinking bars and bet shops are exploiting the situation.
Moving from Azikiwe to Ikoku is now smooth as the new flyover is gradually taking shape to remove the once bottlenecks that spare parts dealers were known to cause traffic jams.
It is believed that once the bridge is completed, life and business will take a strong footing within the popular motor spare parts district of Port Harcourt.
By: Kevin Nengia
Traditional rulers in Rivers State say they are mobilising their subjects to ensure Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s administration succeeds.
The Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers(RSCTR), Eze Oha Apara IV of Apara Kingdom, Eze Chike Amadi Worlu – Wodo gave the assurance at the 117th and 118th quarterly general meeting of the council held in Port Harcourt.
He commended the state governor for maintaining peace in the State despite the unwarranted political crisis orchestrated by selfish and overzealous politicians.
He stated that Governor Fubara should not retaliate by toeing the violent path, adding that Rivers people know those who are over-heating the polity.
The chairman further appealed to people of the State on all sides of the political divide to remember that they have nowhere else to call home apart from Rivers State, saying that they must not allow their personal interests to destabilise and stifle growth of the State.
“As traditional rulers, we owe our State the duty of making it peaceful by cautioning our children against violent act. We, therefore, cannot caution anybody if we allow ourselves become overly partisan.
“ We will then lose the moral authority to reprimand those causing trouble when we take sides.So I say let us all work assiduously to maintain peace in Rivers State,” he said.
He used the medium to advise the supporters of the governor to avoid persons or events that will cause violence, as detractors want to make the State ungovernable so as to call for the declaration of state of emergency.
“ Let me use this opportunity to thank Your Excellency for maintaining peace in the State in the face of the unwarranted political crisis orchestrated by selfish and overzealous politicians.
“ You must not, Your Excellency, fall into their traps by going the violent way. All of us know that those who are over-heating the polity have one aim of making this state ungovernable so as to make it fit for a declaration of state of emergency”, Eze Worlu- Wodo said.
He thanked the state governor for appointing him as the chairman of traditional rulers, council adding that he will contribute his own little quota to the development of the traditional rulers council and by extension, our dear State, Rivers State.
“ Council records have shown that this is the second time since you became Governor of the State on May 29, 2023 that you have approved and released funds for two sets of combined quarterly meetings of the council.
“ This means that your administration is not indebted to us in terms of payment of our meeting sitting allowances.
“ It takes only someone who is both law-abiding and generous to be able to do this.
“On behalf of the traditional rulers, I thank you our Governor”, he said.
Stories by Kevin Nengia
As the Rivers State Ministry of Transport announces an ultimatum to commercial drivers to paint their vehicles with the approved state colour latest on August 1, some commercial drivers have pleaded for more time.
The directive was announced on Monday by the State Commissioner for Transport, Prince Collins Onunwo as it insisted that after the deadline, defaulters will not be allowed to operate.
He said in a statement signed by him that the new order is for uniformity and to ensure subsidised rates. “The Rivers State Ministry of Transport and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have reached an agreement with some designated automobile painting workshops, interested persons can contact the following persons.”, he said.
Meanwhile, responding to the directive, some commercial drivers who spoke to The Tide Metro sought for more time so that they can source money to paint their vehicles.
Kennedy Amahu, who plies between Choba and Mile One said , “ the time is too short. August 1 is just less than two weeks from now and I don’t think many of us can meet the deadline.”
Besides, he explained that many commercial vehicle owners do not paint their vehicles as this allows them to take charter and drops into restricted facilities.
He argued that if their vehicles are painted with state colour, many of them will lose customers and will be restricted to enter some places.
On his part, Hope Nwankwo decried the time given by the government, “ I can’t meet up, but if they extend it to October”, many of us can try.
So far, according to Nwankwo, who ferries passengers from Iwofe to Mile One, Diobu, many of his fellow drivers are not aware of the new policy.
He begged that government should do more extensive publicity on the new directive.
Another commercial driver, Anele Nwobi said what should be done is to register the vehicles to monitor car theft than painting vehicles.
“As far as I’m concerned, “ Nwobi said, “ this new government directive will empower Agberos and the police to harass commercial drivers.”
He recalled that previous administrations had given such directive but that after a while, it failed because of poor implementation.
Nwobi argued that with the poor economy, it would be difficult for many drivers to meet the deadline since most of them are on hire purchase. “The price of fuel is too high now for most of us to cover our daily returns, he said.”
Jaja Stephens, a keke bus driver told The Tide Metro that painting vehicles is quite expensive and hence, many of them will be put out of the road.
Apart from pleading for time extension, Stephens further stated that there is need for the drivers unions to sensitise their members, stressing that many of them are not aware of the new government directive.
It was supposed to be a book launch but fate turned it into a day of reminiscence for natives of Rebisi in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State.
For over 113 years when their great grandfathers ceded some parts of their land to colonial masters and named it after Sir Harcourt then Secretary of Colonies in 1913, natives of Port Harcourt became part of the new metropolis now called Port Harcourt.
According to Eze Apara Rebisi, HRM Isaiah Elekwu, about 25 square miles of their land were ceded to develop the new city which included a new port and railway at the time.
Fortunately, the book launch turned to a historical forum as speaker after speaker spoke of the past and the rich heritage bequeathed by their fathers.
It was this backdrop that made the paramount ruler of Port Harcourt, HRM Elekwu to charge historians to begin earnest documentation of Rebisi people as a way to preserve their heritage.
The royal father gave the charge during the launch and public presentation of the book, ‘Rebisi Natives of Port Harcourt: History and Developments’ written by Arthur Kalagbor held on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
The monarch said intellectuals in the Kingdom should engage more in written than oral history, as he commended Kalagbor for leading the light in documenting his people.
He described the book as the beginning of a new era in Rebisi Kingdom and quest to ensure that there is cohesive and united front among the people.
Calling on elites in Rebisi to rise to the challenge of leadership, Eze Elekwu said time has come to save the future of the Kingdom.
Part of the charge by the Rebisi monarch was to make sure that the struggles of their great grand fathers were captured.
For instance, he recalled that while the 1913 agreement made both by Okrika and some Rebisi chiefs were rejected, the colonial authorities were forced into accepting it.
Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Sunny Amadi said he was elated that a new awakening has started in Rebisi Kingdom with the book.
The university teacher however, advocated for a new economy for Rebisi as he called for use of estate development to drive future growth of the people.
“In his words, Today most parts of Rebisi have been overtaken by development and that is why I urge our people to see opportunities from the estate , and built environment to preserve the future of children.”
Reviewing the book, Dr Chris Akani described the work as historical legacy, that seeks to throw light on the ontology of the people.
He stated that the seven-chapter book with 106 pages is fluid and easy to read, with special focus on the origins of Rebisi people.
Akani added that, “it’s an exciting book that has come at the right time and I think the author should be given a resounding ovation”.
The book reviewer noted that the book is a response to the desire of indigenes to know their roots.
Following the expansion and migration by Rebisi children which included, Okuta. Abali; Ola Ekenigbo and others.
Said he, “Rebisi had four wives, and he was a young man aching for success. And so the children did not relent to expand like Orubom and Abali who were adventurous.”
The expansion according to the university don was as a result of wars and skirmishes and this took place between 1700- 1734. And this led to the conquer of Elekahia.
While launching the book, former House of Representatives member representing Port Harcourt Constituency, Hon. Ken Chikere described history as key to the future.
He said, “if we know our history, then, we will be fully guided.”
Hon. Chikere, a former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General added,” “What is important is to know where you come from. We need to learn our history, so that no one writes our story for us.”
In his remarks, the book author, Arthur Kalagbor disclosed that the book is an outcome of a study group set up by Rebisi Monarch in 2014.
In the view of Kalagbor, the book is not a folklore, but rather a collation of oral history compiled and confirmed by various sources.
He said,” Even with the lack of reading culture, we still need to write with information that are verifiable and evidence-based.”
With the completion of the assignment to collate history of the Kingdom, he noted that he was compelled to expand the frontiers to cover other areas of culture and origins to educate the young generation.
Kalagbor reiterated that the book is dedicated to the future generations who have little knowledge of their history, and thanked royal fathers, and local sources for support, including former President of Ogbakor Ikwerre Organisation Worldwide, Prof. Otonti Nduka for writing the forward of the book.
Kevin Nengia