Metro
Port Harcourt Quakes As UNIPORT Students Protest
Tuesday was an unusual day in the Port Harcourt metropolis as the voices of students of the university of Port Harcourt rang across the four corners of the city, literally rattling the city. The quietude and serenity that had for sometime pervaded the city were punctured momentarily by the voices of the students who were peacefully protesting alleged molestation by thousands of ex-militants who are camped in the neighbouring community of Aluu for training and rehabilitation.
The ex-militants have been in Aluu since October when the amnesty deadline expired and have been in the rehabilitation centre undergoing training. But matters apparently came to a head last Sunday when some of the ex-militants were alleged to have invaded the Abuja campus of the university molesting and raping students while several of the students scampered for safety.
As if the terror and mayhem which they unleashed on that day was not enough, they were alleged to have also stormed the university the following Monday at about 5pm raping and maiming the students. This state of affairs, according to our investigation, was what triggered off the students’ protest on that Tuesday afternoon. As it were, the students who were armed with all manners of placards drove through the major roads of Port Harcourt from Choba where the university is located and anchored at the Government House Drive along Azikiwe Road to register their protest as well as demand prompt action of the state government to nip in the bud future occurrence of such dastardly acts of lawlessness by the ex-militants.
The students in their usual radical tradition laced with a tinge of youthful exuberance became uncontrollable as they made frantic efforts to gain entrance into the Brick House, the seat of power. On several occasions, security operatives stationed at the gate of the Government House shoved them to forestall any ugly incident but the students stood their ground, raising their voices high and demanding to see the governor who was unavoidably out of the state on official engagements.
The security agents including members of the dreaded Joint Military Task Force took charge of the situation but the students could not be placated as they chanted. “We no go gree o! We no go gree!! “The chants became unending until the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Ogbonna Nwuke, the Acting Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Blessing Wikina and a host of newsmen and cameramen came to the scene to meet them.
Even when the President of the university’s students Union Government, mr. Solomon Amadi was given a microphone to express their grievances, the atmosphere was still rowdy as the voices of the students continued to ring across the horizon. The students comprising youngmen and girls remained unconsolable as they continued to chant solidarity songs, shoving and drifting towards the Government House gate.
The security men were also in their hundreds at the scene to contain the situation and the Deputy Commissioner of Police and other top security brass in the state were sighted at the scene to bring the students under control.
When Mr. Ogbonna Nwuke who represented the governor started addressing the crowd, his voice was barely audible as the students’ protest became more strident, insinuating that they only wanted the governor to address them or in the absence of the governor, the deputy governor or the commissioner for Information.
Unfortunately, the demands of the students could not be met as the governor was said to be attending a meeting in Aso Rock in respect of the Super Eagles qualification for the 2010 world cup. It would be recalled that the governor is the chairman of the task force that qualified the country for the football fiesta in South Africa next year. The deputy governor, on his part, was on the delegation to Kenya for the qualification match between the Super Eagles and the Harambee stars of Kenya which gave the country the world cup ticket last Saturday. The deputy governor had not returned to the state capital that Tuesday afternoon while the Information Commissioner was also away on official assignments.
Mr. Nwuke appealed to the students to give peace a chance as the government was prepared to look into their grievances and take prompt action.
He also recognised the fact that the students through the protest were expressing their fundamental human rights, and urged them to see reason.
Even the presence of the university’s dean of students Affairs at the scene could not pacify the revolting students who shouted: “Dean, Go home, Dean, go home!! Dean, go home !!!” The Dean stormed the Government House Drive shortly after the students’ arrival and pleaded with them not to take laws into their hands. He particularly pleaded with the SUG president to take the students back to the university as they had already made their points.
But journalists and security men pleaded with the students to show understanding and retire to their campuses having laid bare their grievances to the appropriate authorities.
Some of the students who spoke with The Tide On Sunday indicated that they were prepared for any consequences as the actions of the ex-militants had made the university environment unsafe.
Some of the placards carried by the protesting students read in part, “Relocate Ex-militants to Aso Rock or brick House. We say No to Rape of our students. Governor Amaechi, please save us”. The placards in their own way expressed the state of mind of the students who demanded that the rehabilitation camp of the ex-militants should be relocated from Aluu community, a neighbouring community to Choba where the university is located.
No doubt, the students’ protest was a mild drama of sorts as some of the students on sighting reporters and cameramen working for Silver Bird Television ran towards them and apparently conscripted them to capture the unfolding scenes. The shout of “Silver Bird! Silver Bird!! Silver bird!! rented the air.
In all, the tension generated by the protest was doused when Mr. Solomon Amadi personally approached the Honourable Commissioner and demanded that a meeting be scheduled between members of the SUG exco and the governor for another day with a promise that he was going to de-mobilise the students.
The students’ protest once again brought to the fore the fact that all is not well with the Federal government’s post-amnesty programme across the Niger Delta. Several observers of events in the Niger delta believe that the action of the ex-militants was ample proof that the post-amnesty programme is not properly handled by the federal Government.
There are strong indications that the ex-militants are not regularly paid their allowances and that infiltrators also storm the camp and start demanding for such allowances without being fished out.
There are also widely held views that the amnesty and all its financial fallouts did not also take care of genuine activists of the Niger Delta struggle. This is also creating and generating tension across the region.
For sure, one thing the protesting students might have forgotten was that the camping of ex-militants and their rehabilitation was actually a federal government’s affair.
However, several persons are of the view that this is the time to cage the ex-militants to possibly stop them from wreaking more havoc to society by molesting and harassing innocent, law-abiding citizens of the country.
Donatus Ebi
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
