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New Page 11
Dokubo-Asari accord: PH bubbles again as peace
returns
CHINEDU WOSU,
Port Harcourt
FALL-OUT
of the recent peace accord between Niger Delta warlords, Alhaji Mujahid
Dokubo-Asari and Ateke Tom and midwifed by the Federal and Rivers State
governments is becoming evident as relative peace has returned to Port Harcout
with night life bubbling.
Armed militants of Dokubo-Asari, leader of
the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF) and Tom of the Niger Delta
Vigilantes, had repeatedly struck terror into residents of the ‘Garden City’
through seemingly ceaseless bloody clashes even as the state government threw
all resources at the affray to ensure that law and order reigned.
Presently, night life has returned to the
oil rich city with clubs, drinking joints, eateries, hotels and similar places
open till the early hours of the next day, unlike when the city seemed under
siege from the factional warlords.
Indeed, teams of expatriate oil workers
from Bonny, where most oil companies are located, and who had kept away while
terror held sway in Port Harcourt, now travel down to the city to revel in the
swing of night life.
As if activated by magical elixir, the
paralysed social activities have reawakened with residents of Port Harcourt now
moving about freely without fear of gunshots or abduction by unknown persons.
At the popular Rumuola, Garrison, G.R.A
Waterlines and Presidential Hotel junctions in the city, night life has picked
up as fleets of flashy cars speed along the streets well into the night.
Business operators interviewed have
expressed immense joy at the peace deal just as commercial motorcycle (okada)
riders are jubilating as they ply all the streets of Port-Harcourt till
day-break, a rare development barely a month ago.
Daily Champion
spoke with an okada rider, Mr Akpan Udom, who said "we
are happy that peace has returned to Port Harcourt; no more killings, shooting
and looting of property."
"We now de run anytime and close anytime,
no more shooting, collecting our money, people are now happy, he remarked.
Daily Champion
also visited the popular and busy Ikwere Road where the major
markets are located and observed that night time transactions had resumed with
people, especially workers who close late from work, stopping, over to pick up
foodstuff and other items.
It was also observed that throughout
Port-Harcourt, private cellphone booths are back to business attending to people
and selling recharge cards unlike before when they virtually closed business as
the violence heighthened.
A cross-section of residents Daily
Champion spoke with in Port Harcourt, expressed happiness with the peace
accord between the warring factions and lauded President Olusegun Obasanjo and
Gov. Peter Odili of Rivers State for masterminding the agreement which has
restored hope to the citizenry.
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