Metro
Life At The Water Fronts … Daily Encounter With PH Water Front Residents
Water front settlements in Port- Harcourt, seen as hovels for the poor masses and refuge for outlaws, are gradually having a new lease of life. With the presence of electricity and boreholes, some of the amenities they were previously lacking, life in these slums is not quite as it used to be.
This has led to the increase in the number of people seeking accommodation at the water fronts.
Apart from the affordability of accommodation at the water fronts, there is a common notion that things are relatively cheap down there and the inhabitants enjoy relative contentment, except instances of disturbances masterminded by hoodlums.
Residents of Ibadan, Nembe, and Captain Amangala waterfronts, who spoke with The Tide Metro, in a random chat, agreed that relative peace and happiness prevails at the water fronts as life blossoms steadily among the clusters of families that inhabit the settlements.
In the water fronts, the economy is rustic and centred around the hectic scramble for survival. A resident of Ibadan water front, Mr Felix Ibitema who spoke with the Tide metro said, ‘I live at the water front with my family because things are very affordable here, with just N15,00,00 one can make a small pot of soup and life goes on, I’m a carpenter and I have a family of four’. Another resident known as Rhoda, a fish dealer also told The Tide metro that she enjoys living at the water front because life is affordable there. ‘ I’m a fish dealer, I sell fish at Creek road market, I love staying at the water front because things are very affordable, I have three children and I train them from the proceeds of my fish business, I have a lot of customers who come from GRA and other places to buy my fish.’
A resident of Nembe water front Mr Alile, a fisherman also told The Tide metro that living at the water front had made him to save money to build a house in his community. ‘ I’m a fisherman and I live here with my family. I’ve been able to save money to build a house in my community.’
The water front settlements in Port Harcourt are virtually identical. They adopt a toilet system with plank houses built on the River which equally serve as bathing facilities, and queue up to take their turns.
Another resident of Nembe water front, Mrs Beatrice Amachree, also a fish dealer said she loves the water front because of the low cost of living. Amachree said, ‘I’m a single mother and I manage life here with my son of eight years. We feed from my fish trading, I love the water front because things are not too expensive here, we live here like brothers and sisters and manage our lives because we can’t afford achieve expensive accommodation.’
The buildings in the settlements consist of myriads of antenna poles attached to each house. Large families cluster together in the small makeshift apartments.
Assorted types of improvised food such as , akara, fried yam, jollof rice, and roasted plantain and fish known as ‘ bole’ are the regular menu of the dwellers, and they are mostly patronised by the bachelors residing at the water front for easy meals.
The water front women engage mostly in petty trading and other commercial activities to assist their families. At the end of a day’s business the men recline at available joints cooling off with bottles of beer and local gin known as kaikai.
At the water front, you get the impression that breeding children is an industry as there are lots of children every where. The children straggle down the river bank splashing in the shallow waters. Somewhat older children engage in rough and tumble game, even when it develops into a fight.
Shouts, laughter, screams and yells echoe along the creek banks mingled with an occasional cry of pain as a child receives an accidental knock or is treated roughly. The noisy chattering game goes on with few recriminations and no running home to parents.
The children generally look happy, contented and full of high spirit. After a strenuous hide and seek game, the children wander around the Creek side. They point sticks constructed like guns at themselves, mimicking gun like sounds in frenzied excitements.
The children attend schools outside the waterside settlements and assist their families in their businesses when they return back from school. The water side population is also impressive and an assess based for political achievements, due to their obvious voting strength. A resident of Captain Amangala water front, Mr China Oluchi who spoke with The Tide metro said politicians used to come to the water fronts to seek the votes of the residents but regretted that they hardly visits the settlements after the election season. He commended the Rivers state Governor ,Barr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for giving a facelift to the old Port Harcourt Township through the reconstruction of roads in the area.
He called on the government to come to the aid of the water front dwellers by providing basic amenities that will enhance their living standards. ‘ I want to commend the Rivers state Governor Barr Nyesom Wike for constructing the various roads in the old Port Harcourt Township that were totally spoilt, I’m also appealing to the Governor to put some amenities like water and good toilet system in the water fronts to give residents a sense of belonging.’
A Surveyor and Planner, Yiinu Needam who spoke with the Tide metro called for the upgrading of waterside settlements and other slums in the state through an integrated urban planning system.
Needam noted that majority of people particularly low income earners reside in the water fronts without the ‘barest shred’ of civilised living. He said if coastal settlements like water fronts are upgraded they would provide modest and affordable accommodation for the teeming residents of the city.
By: Taneh Beemene
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
