Port Harcourt, Rivers State – Elem Kalabari community don jolly again, after dem abandon am for 140 years. Yes o, you read am well! Na Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo, former warlord wey don turn traditional ruler, start the waka to rebuild the place just five months after him coronation. Some historians fit dey say na 1885 dem pack comot, but now e be like say the warriors of old don come back again.
Yesterday, as party no dey miss for him 61st birthday, Dokubo take time yarn for community centre. E promise say Elem Kalabari go soon shine like ‘computer light’ with all the wahala wey dem don face. “What we are going to do, nobody has imagined it,” he yarn. You fit imagine? People wey no see market for 140 years go dey hustle and bustle again, chook mouth for the development ‘gbege’ wey dey happen.
According to Dokubo, “Elem Kalabari has come alive. This kingdom get history wey don dey since 1444 when dem dey carry the name go everywhere. For me, our movement na divine mission wey God don set. We go carry Elem Kalabari enter global map again.” Na true talk wey him dey talk, but e go fit maake am happen? Time go tell o (or maybe na just plenty talk?).
Then, wey chairman of the planning committee, Sobomabo Jackrich, come tell everybody say dem dey celebrate not just birthday but five months wey dem don return to the land as well. “Five months back, na only bush wey dey here. If dem find anybody, na bunkerers go be,” he add. Odogwu! But now, na transformation everywhere. “E no be mouth matter; it be reality,” Jackrich conclude on a high note. Talk say ‘God don dey faithful’, make we bow our heads in the spirit of community.
As Rivers State government don recognised Dokubo on December 31, 2024, the matter don scatter scatter with the love wey him get for the community. E don promise say no go be only talk for mouth as them blow birthday trumpet again. Na wah o! Who no go like to see their land get life again? Hopes don high, don’t let anybody dim am. The journey back to glory don begin!
