Metro

Port Harcourt Quakes As UNIPORT Students Protest

Published

13 years ago

November 22, 2009

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

Metro

New Naira Scarcity: PH Residents Groan

Published

3 weeks ago

March 3, 2023

The Tide

As long queues continue across most commercial banks in Port Harcourt even after the presidential elections, residents have blamed some banks for hoarding the new naira notes.
As at Wednesday huge crowd were seen at premises of banks at Ikwerre Road, Aba Road and Trans Amadi and other parts of the metropolis in their quest to have access to the new naira notes.
Last month after shift of deadlines on the use of old notes, President Muhammadu Buhari announced that aside the N1000 and N500, only old N200 notes were to be used till 10th of April.
Earlier before that time, the apex bank had said it will not shift ground on the January 31st deadline it gave last year as expiry date for use of old naira notes.
Last Wednesday however news circulated that the Supreme Court had placed injunction restraining the CBN from enforcing the February 10th deadline, after three Northern governors approached it to restrain the apex bank from enforcing the deadline on February 10th.
Before the legal fireworks, the Senate had intervened penultimate week during plenary before the elections, and urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to maintain the status quo of old notes till June 30th, 2023.
Consequently, some residents while reacting to the scarcity and unavailability of the new notes have decried that they could not get the new notes, as Point of Sale (POS) operators are smiling home with huge charges on customers.
Dandeson Dappa, an engineer and businessman narrated his experience to The Tide Metro saying that the situation is putting pressure on his family. “I bought scent leaves, pepper and onions with cash transfer even after the elections. I thought the situation will improve but nothing has changed.”
Though he said that the cashless policy will improve the economy in the long run, Dappa urged the Central Bank to release cash into the economy.
Esther Adizua told The Tide Metro that since Monday after the presidential elections she had tried various banks to look for cash, “I went from Ikwerre Road to Aba Road to Trans Amadi, it was only in one branch I could get money”. She added that even many ATM machines across the city are not dispensing cash.
Adizua advised CBN to release cash into circulation as the situation bites harder.
For Francis Edookor, the situation is painful as he left his house very early to pick number at the bank in order to have access into the banking hall early to withdraw from the counter. “ I left my house by 5.30am on Tuesday so I could get number and at the end got only N3000 from the counter.”
He said he has been doing so for the past two days, since he could not pay the 40 per cent charge by POS operators on customers.
The Tide gMetro investigations revealed that many POS operators charge high upto N400 per N1000. Only few operators charge N300 per N1000. The situation had put huge pressure on the masses.
On her part, Bridget Beke, a civil servant, disclosed that she got her last salary from the bank in torn old naira notes of N100 and N200 naira denominations
“I will urge them to maintain the old notes for now. Since that money came into circulation I have not gotten any.”
She called on CBN to extend the deadline for another three months to enable the citizens get the new currency.
Beke further blamed some businesses, especially those operating the Pay On Point of sales machines (POS) for hoarding the new currency and selling at high rates.
Even at that she said, “the POS operators are now making huge profits by charging high rates to issue money to their customers.
A book vendor at Mile 1 Diobu area, Chidi Michael, blamed the situation on some customers who buy goods with old currency in exchange of new naira notes.
Mr. Michael expressed fear that fraudsters may exploit the situation to faking the new naira notes, which he said are too brightly coloured and looks inferior than old ones.
He maintained that the April deadline may not be feasible as far as majority of the populace do not have access to the new naira notes.
Another resident, Ine Minima, admitted that her bank were issuing the new notes ,but that it was not available enough to circulate to customers.
“ In my bank today they paid N2,000 at the counter, but those who queued at the ATM got N5,000 only,” she stated.
She urged the CBN to give more time so citizens will have access to the new notes.
“They should work on improving the printing and circulating more of the new currency” Minima stressed.

By: Kevin Nengia

Metro

Ogbogolo Kingdom Excited Over Stool Elevation ……Assures Total Peace

Published

2 months ago

January 13, 2023

The Tide

His Royal Highness James Rowland, Obenemaibe III of Ogbogolo Kingdom in Ahoada West Local Government Area, has hailed Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for the elevation of Obenemaibe stool.
Hon. Rowland described the elevation of Obenemaibe III of Ogbogolo kingdom by Chief Wike as one of the best things that could happen to his people.
Hon. Rowland, occupant of the stool, made the assertion in swift reaction to the governor’s pronouncement.
The Obenemaibe III of Ogbogolo kingdom said he lacked words to appreciate Governor Wike for his love, passion and development of his people
He revealed by this singular gesture Governor Wike has proved he is God’s gift to Rivers State and the people of Ogbogolo kingdom will go any length to reciprocate.
According to him, “Today is the best happiest day for us. It is the best day so far because our dear governor and in-law has surprised us with the elevation of Ogbogolo stool.
“I’m most overwhelmed because it happened during my reign.
“What the governor has done is a big lesson that patience is good .
Our people were patient enough and their patience has finally paid off.
“Many thanks to our dear governor. We assure him of our total support during the elections”, he said.
He stressed that peace and unity of the kingdom would remain his watchword.
Hon. Rowland noted that no meaningful development can thrive in environment where there is no peace hence all hands will be on deck to ensure peace of the kingdom.
While commending the governor for the flag-off of Obodhi-Ozochi communities’ roads which will bring development to the rural areas, he expressed joy over the governor’s developmental strides in the state, urging him not to relent as the people of Ogbogolo will give him maximum support.

Metro

Amadabo Palace Lights Up Finima Town

Published

2 months ago

January 13, 2023

The Tide

The landscape and cultural atmosphere of Finima got lighted up yesterday as Amadabo palace in the ancient community was unveiled.
A jubilant atmosphere engulfed the NLNG host community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State with indigenes and visitors taking a peek at the massive building on Thursday.
The architectural masterpiece houses the Amadabo of Finima.
Tide Metro learnt that the various strata of Finima society are excited to represent themselves at the event yesterday at Sonia Suu in Zone 4, Finima.
The new palace of the Amadabo of Finima. The palace, which sits on 4 plot of land, was described by an urban development enthusiast, who preferred anonymity, as a “quintessential edifice and an architectural marvel”, which celebrates the centuries old enterprise of the Ibani nay Ijaw people of Nigeria’s Niger Delta region.
A former Public Relations Officer of the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House (BOBH) Asawo, Idatonye Lambert told The Tide Metro over the phone on Wednesday that “the palace has 250 seated capacity palace halls, executive chamber, four bedroom quarters for the Amadabo, secretariat, security control room and watchtower”.
Idatonye Lambert Brown said, “I’m inviting all and sundry to Finima Community today to share in our joy as we unveil our Amadabo’s palace for this and coming generations to behold the awesome beauty of our dear community, the ancient Finima Community.”
The Tide Metro investigations revealed that peace pervades the length and breadth of the community as residents go about their normal activities uninterrupted by anyone, a situation bolstered by the presence of security personnel drawn the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Finima Division as well as other sister security agencies.