THE
DEVELOPMENT OF RIVERS STATE, ITS PEOPLE, CULTISM AND THE REMEDY FOR CULTISM
Before the advent of the name rivers
state, the state was before that existing under the name or as part of the
formal eastern region, Nigeria, before the split of the region on 27th may
1967, into three new states; River state which begot Bayelsa, the south
-eastern state named cross river which later gave birth to Akwa Ibom, east
-central state further divided into five states; Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi
and Abia. In February 1966, Isaac Boro, Sam Owonaro and Nottingham Dick
alongside their supporters proclaimed a "Delta People's Republic".
The rebellion persisted for twelve days but was resisted by the Federal and the
old Eastern Nigeria government. On 27 May 1967, under the administration
of General Yakubu Gowon, Decree No. 14 was issued, allowing the creation
of Rivers State. Rivers State borders includes; Imo and Abia States to the
north, Akwa Ibom State to the east, and Bayelsa and Delta States to the west, it
was named after the rivers that borders its territory. The State is a diverse
state that is home to many ethnic groups, the majority being Ikwere but
also including the Ogoni and Ijaw. The state is particularly
noted for its linguistic diversity, with 28 indigenous languages being said to
be spoken in Rivers State, dominant of which, are the Igbo speaking groups, the
Ogoni and Ijaw languages, others include; Andoni, opobo - Nkuro, Ahoada etc.
The state has twenty three (23) local government area which include; Abua–Odua,
Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Akuku-Toru, Andoni, Asari-Toru, Bonny, Degema, Eleme,
Emohua, Etche, Gokana, Ikwerre, Khana, Obio-Akpor, Ogba–Egbema–Ndoni, Ogu–Bolo,
Okrika, Omuma, Opobo–Nkoro, Oyigbo, Port Harcourt and Tai, of which Portharcourt also known nationwide
as The Garden city serves as the state capital. Most industrial activity in the
state is centred in Port Harcourt, which has become one of the nation’s leading
industrial centres and is the site of a federal university, the University of Port
Harcourt (founded 1975), the city has three stadiums, the Sharks Stadium, the
Yakubu Gowon Stadium located in Elekahia and Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium located
at Omagwa, it also serve as the center of social and economic life in Rivers
State. The area that became Port Harcourt in 1912 was before that of a farmland
of Rebisi people, Ikwerre enthnic group.
CHALLENGES IN
DEVELOPMENT OF RIVER STATE
Rivers State, the Treasure
base of the nation as nick named has maintained its importance as a leading
supplier of wealth to the nation for centuries. In 2007, the state ranked 2nd
nationwide with a gross domestic product(GDP) of $21.07 billion and a per
capita income of $3,965., and has maintain that position till date. This
development came up as a result of the rise of oil industry in the state which
in return increase the revenue of the state. The present Governor of the state
in person of Governor Nyesom wike, has fully establish a Real Madrid affiliated
football Academy at Yakubo Gowon stadium, Elekiah. The decision to set up a
Real Madrid Academy in Rivers State is a well considered strategy to drive football development in the state and harness the
benefits of already available talents and today, you know that football is big business and one of the ways to improve
the economy.
The development of river
state is limited majorly to its capital, Portharcourt, this is so because of
the unfairness of OMPADEC ( Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development
Commission) in its responsibility to link towns and villages of oil producing
areas with bridges. Just as Lagos Island, Victoria Island, Apapa are all
islands connected to one another and to Ikeja the state capital in the mainland
with the same oil money. I do not see any reason why Bonny, Old Bakana, Bakana,
Tombia and Buguma down to Degema and others cannot be connected to each other
and the mainland with bridges. Because of the coastal nature of river state its
major means of transportation is by water, this have limit development to their
mainland, Portharcourt, since development would be hardly transfer to other
towns and villages by water. Development would have been extended to other
towns and villages if OMPADEC has connected those towns and villages to
Portharcourt the mainland.
The heterogeneous nature of the state also
decrease the rapid rate of development in the state, issues of choosing a
location where development should be carried out becomes a big problem as every
ethnic group will prefer there areas to be developed and therefore the
dominants ethnic groups; Ijaw, Ogoni and Ikwerre gets the advantage of been
developed than the others. Also their political structure is disorganised as
different ethnic group fight for power with selfish interest of bringing
development to their areas or communities.
DEVELOPMENT OF
THE RIVERINES
The Rivers People consisting of Ikwerre,
Kalabari, Ibani, Nembe, Yenagoa, Okrika, Ahoada, Ogoni, Opobo – Nkuro and Bile.
They are mainly traders, fishermen, and farmers. Most of them live on small
islands and towns along the Atlantic Ocean and the creeks. On this article I
will focus my view on the dominants group; Ijaw, Ogoni and Ikwere and briefly
on others.
OGONI PEOPLE
Although the dates are not specified in
Ogoni narratives, scholars believe that archaeological and linguistic evidence
indicates that the Ogoni arrived in the Niger Delta around 15 b.c.e. .In
addition to English, three distinct languages are spoken in Ogoniland: Khana,
Gokana, and Eleme. The Ogoni economy is based largely on fishing and
subsistence agricultural production of foods such as yams and cassava.
Ogoniland is one place in river state who has suffered tremendously of land
pollution due to oil spillage. Oil exploration and exportation is one of the
chief commercial activities in Ogoniland, but many of the most impoverished
residents of the area do not receive the benefits derived from oil revenues,
the region once was covered by a thick rain forest but has suffered from
deforestation and pollution after decades of aggressive oil exploration. As
Shell and the Nigerian government stepped up their efforts to export oil, they
came into direct conflict with Ogoni customs and traditions. Ogoni leaders
accused Shell and the Nigerian government, led by General Sani Abacha, of
exploiting the Ogoni people and their natural resources with little concern for
the social and economic impact. Deforestation, environmental pollution,
unemployment, and destitution strained an already tense situation. In 1990
Ogoni leaders responded by forming a resistance organization called the Movement
for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP). Doctor Garrick Leton was elected as
the group's first president, Chief Kobani as its vice president, and Ken
Saro-Wiwa as its publicity secretary.The poet and writer Ken Saro-Wiwa emerged
as one of MOSOP's most vocal and visible leaders. He and other Ogoni leaders
crafted an Ogoni Bill of Rights that articulated an alternative environmental,
economic, and political arrangement for the exploration and exportation of oil
in Ogoniland. MOSOP urged Shell and the Nigerian government to adopt more
environmentally responsible methods of exploration and share the immense wealth
generated from that exploration with the Ogoni people. MOSOP is a selfdescribed
nonviolent movement, and its public protests against the construction of
additional pipelines were met at times by fierce and violent government
opposition. Ogoni leaders accused Shell of allowing its pipelines to fall into
disrepair, leaking oil and contaminating the environment. Shell in turn accused
the Ogoni of deliberately sabotaging the pipelines.
On 4 January 1993, MOSOP mobilized 300,000
people, more than two-thirds of the Ogoni population, for a peaceful protest
against Shell in the town of Bori. Ogoni Day, as it was called, caught the
attention of environmental and political activists worldwide. After consistent
and intense pressure from MOSOP and other nongovernmental organizations around
the world, Shell halted its operations in Ogoniland in 1993. However, the
company returned a year later with support from the Rivers State Internal
Security Task Force (ISTF), a special Nigerian military unit formed
specifically to suppress the activities of MOSOP. Shell's return and the
presence of ISTF sparked another round of fierce protests and public
confrontations.Conditions changed with the death in 1998 of Nigeria's military
dictator, General Abacha, and the installment of a democratically elected
civilian-led government a year later. President Olusegun Obasanjo's government,
working with Shell, has initiated development projects in Ogoniland designed to
clean up the environment and bring money and jobs to the Ogoni. In 2001 MOSOP
actively participated in hearings held by the Oputa Human Rights Investigation
Panel. They submitted the so-called Ogoni 13 petition, urging the Nigerian
government to acknowledge the past and accept responsibility for repression by
past regimes.
IKWERRE
PEOPLE
Ikwerre is one of the
largest ethnic nationality in present day Rivers State. It is made up of not
less than four major Local Government Areas; Emoaha, Ikwerre, Obio/Apor,
Portharcourt and occupies the largest land mass in Rivers state. Location like
Port Harcourt which is also called the capital of Rivers State has attracted
alot of people and Tourist. The acquisition of Ikwerre land began in 1913 by
the British colonial government when it acquired a parcel land from the Rebisi
clan of Diobu because the then colonial government wanted to develop a harbor
in the area. Once the sea port was established, the place became busy with
commerce and trade and with a beehive of activities. Ikwerre was formally known
as Iwhnurohna but the Nigerian colonial history records that the name “Ikwerre”
was given by the colonial administration when they wanted to acquire the Rebisi
waterfront to build the wharf. Using an Ibo interpreter to talk to the
illiterate Rebisi (Port Harcourt) chiefs, they asked them: Would you permit us
to use the waterfront to build the wharf for ships to berth? And they answered:
A KWERULEM , meaning – “We have agreed.”What the white-man was hearing was
“Ikwerre,” so he recorded it in the official gazette that the IKWERRE PEOPLE
have agreed for the colonial administration to build the wharf. And since it
was the official record of government, the name Ikwerre became the name of the
Iwhnurohna people in all official documentations till date. Ikwerre are
generally considered by a great majority of scholars as a subgroup of the Igbo
people of southeastern Nigeria. Traditional history has classified Ikwerre into
seven groups called "Ikwerre Essa". They are Elele, Isiokpo, Rumuji,
Emohua, Akpor, Aluu Igwuruta and Obio group. This division was recognized by
Forde and Jones; (1950) in their ethnographic study of the Igbo and Ibibio
speaking peoples of South Eastern Nigeria. Majority of the Ikwerre settlements
have their roots traceable from the old Benin Empire.” There are seven distinct
dialect spoken in Ikwerreland they include; Apara, Ndele, Ọgbakiri, Ọbịọ, Akpor
Alụụ, Ịbaa and Elele.
One of the fantastic traditional displays
of the Ikwerre people is the traditional wrestling. This is mainly engaged by
the able-bodied youths to test their physical strength.In their wrestling
competition, different types of drumming the instruments are used such as:
Ikwirikwu, Ekwenkalu, Ngele, Mbamba of different types, shapes and sizes.Apart
from the wrestling competition, which is mainly for the young men, there is
also the Eregbu cultural dance, Ekpo and Ekpe masquerades.
Ikwerre people are known to be very
hospital set of people in Rivers State. This hospitality is defined in the way
they take care of their guests at a given time. They thrill their guests with
their traditional meals. The most common of these are the cocoyam, foo foo
popularly known as loi loi and various soup like okazi soup, Oha soup, okpotoro
vegetable soup, prewinkle soup and others. Their attire is woko shirt and
wrapper, with a cap called opu wagoro made with wool
IJAW PEOPLE
Ijaw people are an ethnic
group majorly found in the Niger Delta in Nigeria, with significant population
clusters in Bayelsa, in Delta, and in Rivers. I will be deliberating on Ijaws
that clusters in River state, the Ijaws in River state covers up to 10 local
government area of the state they include;Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Bonny, Okrika,
Ogu-Bolo, Port Harcourt (South), Asari-Toru, Degema, Akuku-Toru and Abua-Odual.
Ijaws say the word means “truth” or “justice”, Rivers Ijaws are seen by others
as urbane and highly educated due to early contact with Europeans.The Ijaws
were one of the first of Nigeria's peoples to have contact with Westerners, and
were active as go-betweens in the trade between visiting Europeans and the
peoples of the interior, particularly in the era before the discovery of
quinine, when West Africa was still known as the "White Man's Graveyard".
Ijaw languages (Izon,
Kalabari, Obolo, Wakirike, Nkoroo, Ogbian, Kabou, Buseni, Atala, Bille, Kula,
Apoi, etc. Ijaw people prefer to bury the dead on Saturday morning, while there
will be a Christian wake, popularly called “Obito” on Friday evening, to be
followed by social wake till dawn. The food items, plantain is the most popular
,soup, stew and drinks of the Ijaw people are also unique, in view of their
hospitable nature. With different types, shapes and sizes of fish, their
visitors always feel at home.The Ijaw have unique culture and they always stand
out of the crowd. The dressing of an Ijaw man will not be complete without the
bowler (resource control) hat and a walking stick. It is rare to find an Ijaw
man in “agbada,”. They have their special top and trousers, which at times is
referred to as “chieftaincy”.
In spite of the Rivers
Ijawland’s richness in crude oil and gas, the people still complain of
marginalization, neglect, pollution and environmental degradation, while
calling for increase in the 13 per cent derivation to crude oil and gas
producing communities, as well as special attention to be given to the host
communities, in terms of development and empowerment of the people.
CULTISM IN
RIVER STATE
Cultism in river state was trigger immensely from the
time amnesty was granted to the Niger Delta militant on 25 June 2009. History
has it that the militants argued that they are fighting to have a larger share
of the country’s oil wealth (which their region produces) and to curb wanton environmental
degradation caused by gas flaring and oil spillage. The question here is, how
does putting these militant in a payroll resolve the issue of them fighting for
a large share of the country oil wealth, rather it serves as a bribery for them
to stop the fight without getting the aim of their agitation, come to think of
it, if anyone is should be paid to resolve the fight for larger share of the
oil wealth of the country it should be the Niger Delta Development Commission
(NDDC) which have been existing before the amnesty was granted to the Niger
Delta militant, even before then, in September 2008, President Umaru Yar'Adua
announced the formation of a Niger Delta Ministry, with the Niger Delta
Development Commission to become a parastatal under the ministry. One of the
core mandates of the commission is to train and educate the youths of the oil
rich Niger Delta regions to curb hostilities and militancy, while developing
key infrastructure to promote diversification and productivity, why was the
ministry not funded for the betterment of the Niger delta people rather the
militants was funded therefore encouraging cultism in Niger Delta. Though
amnesty is a globally recognized policy for conflict resolution and peace
building, but it was wrongly used.
Most of the Niger Delta
militants domicile in River state and they make up the diverse cult group in
the state, the cult groups include; Icelanders AKA Deywell and Greenlanders AKA
Deygbam, also most of the leaders of the then Niger Delta militants are the leaders of these cult group and they also
occupy political position in the state and some of them are community leaders, so they therefore
strengthens the background of cultism in the state. Though there are many cult
group in river state the dominants groups are the Icelanders and Greenlanders.
Sometimes there is a clash between cult groups life and properties of citizens
and residents of the state are endanger. Before now cultism used to be a secret
activity, but today cultism is flag in every nooks and crannies of river state,
young boys and girls are been initiated
after been promised security, fame and sometimes money. It has extended to
schools, grassroot football team and even church, these cult groups are the ones
responsible for robbery, kidnapping, killing, piracy and even rape in River
state. People are now careful of the colour combination they dress on, because
of cultism issue. I can remember been warned of putting on a sandals that has a
red and black colour at the University of Portharcourt and I believe it was due
to cultism issues.
REMEDIES FOR
CULTISM IN RIVER STATE
Remedy for cultism in river state is not
fully provided because politicians and other top officials of the state and
nation are using the cult group to execute diverse secret operation; shooting
and stealing of ballot boxes during election, killing and threatening of
political opponent etc, they pretend they don't know the cult groups but they
are working hand in hand with them. Cultism in River state was limited to the
state capital, but has now be extended to other communities. Some of the remedy
for cultism in River state include;
Ø
Enactment of pernicious law: The government should impose severe punishment on cultism practice,
people who are involve in such practice should not just be sentence to jail for
life imprisonment or certain number of years. There should be a death penalty
for anyone involve in the practice. Let me share a story of when I was still in
secondary school; a boy of about 15 years old was caught one night with a
pistole gun without bullet, he used the pistole to rob a guy, the guy and him
both struggled with the pistole, the guy then found out that the pistole was
without bullet, since the guy was older and stronger than him, the guy held him
and other people from the community also came out and held the boy. The next
morning after investigation by the police, they found out that this young boy
got access to that gun through a cultist who he has been giving Intel (finding
and giving intelligent information) to, the gun was seize by the police and the
boy was taking to Portharcourt Remind Home in River state, Borikiri because he
was not up to 18 years old to be jailed. Years later he was release and came
back to the community. To my greatest surprise he became worse as he return, he
now smoke cigarette and has fully been initiated into the cult group, and is
now a threat to the community because he steals alot in the neighbourhood. In
essence what am I saying?, if he had been giving a sentence of death after serving
at the remind home, it would have save the community of insecure properties.
Many others like him ha been caught and jailed and they return counting the
number of time they have gone to jail, boasting, that they are no longer scared
of jail, so they do worst things than before with the believe that they will
end up in jail and still return. So if death penalty is executed it will reduce
the rate and prelactice of cultism.
Ø Provision
of security for citizens: Most people decides to be initiated into cult group because of their
search for security from other cult group individuals who intimidate them as
non cult members. The police has no influence on these cult groups I believed
they are also scared of them, so the government should make better provision
for the security of the citizen from cultism. The Anti cultism squad would have
been a better option since they are brutal and aggressive, but they left their
duties and cross their boundaries, instead of protecting the citizens they loot
from the citizens
Ø Provision of well paid and secured job: Another reason people decide to be initiated into cultism is that they want to be beneficiaries of amnesty and other funds that comes from the cultism practice, did you know that these cult groups are paid in communities when bigger project are carried out in the community, they called it "matching ground" a slangs meaning payment before commencement of work. If its not paid, work won't commence, it could be project on roads, building of house, bridges and so on. So if good job are provide for the youth, they won't have such time to participate in such activities.
J
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