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Women turn to prayers to halt waterfront demolitions

Despite pleads from various NGO's, international actors and countless local civil society groups, the large-scale waterfront demolitions in the Okirika area of Port Harcourt are set to begin imminently.

After weeks of protests and lobbying local people have taken to prayer as a means of saving their homes and livelihoods.

The threat of demolition by the Rivers State government under the leadership of Rt.Hon. Chibuike Ameachi has been present for some time but it now looks clear that the bulldozers will finally be arriving during the summer of 2009.

Local and international activist groups say that the demolitions will not solve the issues of poverty and suffering that are so obvious in these areas of Port Harcourt. They suggest that a better way to deal with these issues would be to provide roads, water and sanitation to the waterfront areas rather than simply moving on thousands of people to other parts of the city.

The government has already held several meetings with local chiefs and leaders of the waterfront but have been repeatedly told that local people will oppose total demolition and will only accept an urban renewal solution that allows them to stay in their homes.

There have been protests outside of Government House where women's representative Mrs. Jim George told the secretary to the state government Mr. Magnus Abe that the demolitions will cause untold hardship to residents.

International Law on such demolitions clearly states that alternative accommodation needs to be provided before existing housing is demolished. As such the Nigerian Government will be breaking International Law by carrying out these demolitions.

Although N20 Billion naira has been set aside for compensation much of this is unlikely to ever get to the people who need it due to endemic corruption.

On Wednesday 22nd July 2009, hundreds of local women held a prayer session at Aggrey Road in Port Harcourt to take their case to God. They now believe this is the only way to change the ardent position of the governor.

After the prayers one of the organizers said "we gather here today because the governor insisted that he must demolish the waterfront , it is only prayer that can change him. The government said they will come on air, water and land to demolish our homes, we don't have weapons, we don't want war again, but we will resist any demolition vehemently."

"They can not use force to demolish our houses and we don't want compensation either, this is our ancestral home and we have no where to go" said Madam K. Iyaye who attended the prayer meeting.

The Okirika people are the traditional owners of this part of the waterfront and are prepared to defend their homes, whatever the cost.

"The government should not push the Okirika people to war, because we don't want war," said Mrs. Ibite Torbudoku, "what I have to say is that this prayer is organised by only women because we need peace, all theses house is our livelihood and our children feed from there, many of us have lost our husbands. Our governor has promised to build bridge in Okirika community but nothing has been done, he had so far demolished structures like the Teaching Hospital and cultural center - we don't need any other demolition from him."

After weeks of meetings, protests and advocacy initiatives the women of Okirika have now turned to their faith to help them from loosing their homes, their livelihoods and the fragile peace that they have had for so long.