"WATERFRONTS DESTRUCTION: LEVI GEORGE CARPETS AMAECHI, RIVERS GOVERNOR, FOR PROMOTING IKWERRE AGENDA By Obiabin Onukwugha "

Despite explanations by the Rivers State Government that the planned development of waterfronts is to give residents better accomodation and ensure that criminals are wiped out of those areas, the Okrikans see the development as a plot of the Rotimi Amaechi administration to displace them from their ancestral home. This was the contention of Chief Levi George, the secretary of the Borikiri council of chiefs. Speaking with this reporter in an exclusive interview in Portharcourt recently, Chief George said the planned destruction of waterfronts " is an Ikwerre agenda an as such does not go down well with the Okrikans. He said that most areas destroyed by the government are yet to be rebuilt as planned, and as such, waterfronts could not be an exception.

"Look at the UPTH destroyed, nothing has beeen done; the field between Bonny Street and Creek Road, nothing has been done; Let Amaechi develop those areas before coming to the waterfronts" he said.

Chief George stressed that the develoment of waterfronts should be a collaboration between the state government and the Okrikans.

His words: "The governor is supposed to create a forum where he meets with stakeholders from Okrika so as to agree on where the said destruction will start. Everybody needs development, but if he does not make us part of the arrangement, it will not go down well with us." According to him, the meeting held recently between the Special Adviser to the Governor on Waterfront Development, Hon. Theordore Georgewill, and the Wakirike chiefs was as a result of sympathy on the side of the SA.

"The Governor did not send him. The man came out of sympathy to enlighten us on the way and manner the demolition will go. But we insisted that the governor should come by himself and talk with us." He said. He posited that the developments of waterfronts is a good idea, but it must not be done in a way that will cause pain to those concerned.

Chief George stressed that if the government must destroy waterfronts, then an alternative place of abode must be provided for the inhabitants, adding "you don't drive someone out of his residence without providing an alternative accomodation."

According to him, much resources and efforts were expended by the Okrikans to bring the waterfronts to what they are today.

"we used all ourr resources to build the waterfronts to what it is today. Some of us dont have any other place to go to. The waterfronts are the only remaining native town for the Okrikans", he lamented.

Chief George said that the Okrikans are fishermen, and as such cannot reside in upland areas, adding "if the Governor has good intentions for us, let him dredge the mangrove, develop it and relocate us there. We cannot reside in upland because we are not used to it. It would be recalled that angry youths in Borikiri area had attacked the Special Adviser to the governor on Waterfronts Development Hon Theordore Georgewill recently, when he went to hold a meeting with the Wakirike chiefs on how the planned development is to be carried out.