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Niger-Delta Voice, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, , 2019 — 29<br />
By Chioma Onuegbu<br />
UYO – SECRETARY, Council<br />
of Chiefs, Ikot Uso Akpan<br />
community, Itu Clan, Itu Local<br />
Government Area, Akwa Ibom<br />
State, Elder Michael Uko, has<br />
revealed that it is a taboo <strong>in</strong> the<br />
entire clan for anybody to<br />
slaughter and eat any variety<br />
of monkey.<br />
Uko, who stated this at a oneday<br />
promotional sem<strong>in</strong>ar <strong>in</strong> Uyo<br />
on the critically endangered<br />
Sclater’s monkey species,<br />
locally called “Adiaha Awa-<br />
Itam”, mean<strong>in</strong>g first daughter of<br />
Itam.<br />
Sclater’s guenon, also known<br />
as Sclater’s monkey and the<br />
Nigerian monkey, is an old<br />
world monkey first described by<br />
Reg<strong>in</strong>ald Innes Pocock <strong>in</strong> 1904<br />
and named after Philip Sclater.<br />
An arboreal and diurnal primate<br />
that lives <strong>in</strong> the forests of<br />
southern Nigeria<br />
The community leader said,<br />
“Ikot Uso Akpan Itam village is<br />
blessed with a waterfall that<br />
empties <strong>in</strong>to a stream (Idim<br />
Afia). In this stream, you could<br />
still f<strong>in</strong>d trees that provide shed<br />
to the water bodies and serve as<br />
habitat for the monkeys<br />
(guenon) Whereas Itam clan<br />
generally forbids the eat<strong>in</strong>g or<br />
kill<strong>in</strong>g of monkeys of any k<strong>in</strong>d,<br />
it is only <strong>in</strong> Ikot Uso Akpan Itam<br />
village that you could f<strong>in</strong>d the<br />
greatest number of Sclater’s<br />
monkey <strong>in</strong> the clan.<br />
“This could be attributed to the<br />
presence of our customers and<br />
tradition of ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the age<br />
long belief system of not cutt<strong>in</strong>g<br />
trees or kill<strong>in</strong>g monkeys <strong>in</strong><br />
sacred Ikwat forest, which<br />
provides habitat for the<br />
monkeys. Ikwat ra<strong>in</strong> forest<br />
habitat still rema<strong>in</strong>s the biggest<br />
sacred forest preserved <strong>in</strong> Akwa<br />
Ibom state for the Sclater’s<br />
monkey,” he asserted.<br />
He noted that the presence of<br />
the monkey primate species <strong>in</strong><br />
the village was one of the tourist<br />
attractions <strong>in</strong> the area, add<strong>in</strong>g<br />
that residents welcome<br />
partnership from both local and<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternational organizations to<br />
develop ecotourism <strong>in</strong> their<br />
community.<br />
Sweet and bitter tale of<br />
THE TEAM<br />
Emma Amaize - Editor<br />
Samuel Oyadongha - Yenagoa<br />
Gabriel Enogholase- Ben<strong>in</strong> City<br />
Jimitota Onoyume- Warri<br />
Festus Ahon- Asaba<br />
Egufe Yafugborhi- Port Harcourt<br />
Emmanuel Una- Calabar<br />
Akpokona Omafuaire- Warri<br />
Godw<strong>in</strong> Oghre- Sapele<br />
Harri-Okon Emmanuel- Uyo<br />
Chioma Onuegbu-Uyo<br />
Ike Uchechukwu- Calabar<br />
Davies Iheamnachor- Port Harcourt<br />
Emem Idio- Yenagoa<br />
Brisibe Perez- Ughelli<br />
Theresa Ugbobu- Agbor<br />
Ochuko Akuopha- Oleh<br />
Chancel Bomadi Sunday - Bomadi<br />
Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu- Ben<strong>in</strong> City<br />
Nath Onajoke, Asaba<br />
Chijioke Nwankpa, Port- Harcourt<br />
AKWA-IBOM…LAND OF PROMISE<br />
ITAM: A’Ibom clan where it’s taboo to kill, eat<br />
monkey<br />
•People talk to monkeys and they respond - Elder Michael Uko<br />
•Why Ikot Uso Akpan Itam is home to Sclater’s monkey<br />
•Scalter’s monkey<br />
Scalter’s monkey<br />
Uko, however, admitted that<br />
the people were always <strong>in</strong><br />
constant conflict with the<br />
monkeys over <strong>in</strong>vasion and<br />
destruction of their farmlands,<br />
but they still take pleasure <strong>in</strong> the<br />
“Today, there is cancer of the<br />
sk<strong>in</strong> now <strong>in</strong> Eleme, we are<br />
experienc<strong>in</strong>g heavy soot and<br />
ra<strong>in</strong> water <strong>in</strong> our communities<br />
is so dark that we cannot even<br />
wash with it. We expected<br />
comprehensive health scheme<br />
monkeys.<br />
“The monkeys <strong>in</strong>vade our<br />
farmlands and become pests,<br />
destroy<strong>in</strong>g farm crops and fruits<br />
that are meant for human<br />
consumption, leav<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
<strong>in</strong>digenes with hunger,<br />
starvation and poverty.<br />
are over 30 years of age that we,<br />
as parents, are still feed<strong>in</strong>g. If<br />
we fail to provide for them, they<br />
may go out and jo<strong>in</strong> cultism.<br />
Therefore, there is need to<br />
engage our youths so that they<br />
will stop <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> acts that<br />
will re-pollute the environment<br />
after clean<strong>in</strong>g,” she asserted.<br />
Gender sensitivity<br />
Osaro-Ejiji confessed that<br />
SPDC was operat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Ogoni,<br />
it was very sensitive to issue of<br />
gender balance.<br />
She urged HYPREP to emulate<br />
Shell <strong>in</strong> the project, add<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
the 1,200 slots provided for women<br />
<strong>in</strong> the four local government areas<br />
were discourag<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
She said, “Shell is fairer to<br />
women than HYPREP, HYPREP<br />
should emulate Shell, they are fair<br />
to women, it is <strong>in</strong> the policy.”<br />
Ogoni water seriously<br />
polluted — Kebetkache<br />
Executive Director of<br />
KEBETKACHE, Ms. Emem Okok,<br />
<strong>in</strong> her address, noted that a study<br />
carried out by the group showed<br />
that polluted water abound <strong>in</strong> the<br />
area.<br />
Represented by the Project<br />
Notwithstand<strong>in</strong>g, we love and<br />
cherish the monkeys.<br />
“1t is always a pleasant and<br />
wonderful spectacle to see a<br />
monkey sit on the branch of a<br />
tree, pluck leaves and place it<br />
on its thigh and weave it <strong>in</strong> the<br />
manner that women <strong>in</strong> the<br />
village weave rope <strong>in</strong> response<br />
to def<strong>in</strong>ite <strong>in</strong>struction.<br />
“In the village spr<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
farmlands, one could talk to<br />
monkeys and they respond to<br />
your directive. You could carry<br />
cassava, palm fruits, maize and<br />
other edible crops on your head<br />
and a monkey from a nearby<br />
tree jumps and takes some of it<br />
from your head,” he further<br />
disclosed.<br />
UNDP okay with Ikot Osu<br />
Akpan Itam conservation<br />
plan- Odele, UNDP<br />
The Head Susta<strong>in</strong>able<br />
Development, United Nations<br />
Development Programme<br />
(UNDP) Mr. Muyiwa Odele,<br />
said his organization was<br />
impressed with the<br />
community’s tradition and<br />
decision on the conservation<br />
and protection of the monkey<br />
species.<br />
“There are about 13 such<br />
monkey populations across the<br />
country, but the population of<br />
Ikot Osu Akpan Itam is the most<br />
secured and that is why the<br />
UNDP has <strong>in</strong>vested enough<br />
resources, assistance <strong>in</strong> this<br />
community”, he said.<br />
My worries —Dr Ebe, RONEL<br />
Consult<br />
Manag<strong>in</strong>g Director of RONEL<br />
Consult Limited, a firm of<br />
environmental consultants and<br />
biodiversity experts, Dr Isidore<br />
Akpan Ebe, thanked the UNDP<br />
and Global Environment<br />
Residents of Rivers community with flow station bemoan us<strong>in</strong>g<br />
lantern for 20 yrs runn<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Cont<strong>in</strong>ued from page 28<br />
“We were expect<strong>in</strong>g<br />
better health scheme for<br />
Ogoni people, but they<br />
came to give us<br />
Paracetamol, this is not<br />
the k<strong>in</strong>d of health<br />
programme recommended<br />
<strong>in</strong> the UNEP report.<br />
“We need comprehensive<br />
health scheme, where the<br />
process will be thorough.<br />
They should come and use<br />
a primary health centre or<br />
build centre <strong>in</strong> at least each<br />
of the local government<br />
areas so that people who<br />
are sick can always seek<br />
<strong>in</strong>tervention.”<br />
“The only way forward is<br />
that they should <strong>in</strong>clude<br />
names of women leaders<br />
that will not compromise <strong>in</strong><br />
br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g what belongs to<br />
the women to them.<br />
“We have children that<br />
Officer of KEBETKACHE Women<br />
Development and Resource<br />
Centre, Port Harcourt, Nelly<br />
Umoren, she said that the meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />
contributes to creat<strong>in</strong>g platform<br />
for representation of community<br />
women groups to project their<br />
voices on issues of<br />
implementation of the emergency<br />
measures.<br />
“One of our key f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
revealed that as high as 91.5 per<br />
cent of the respondents <strong>in</strong>dicated<br />
that public water supply is not<br />
available <strong>in</strong> their neighborhood.<br />
“Dur<strong>in</strong>g the learn<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
exchange visits conducted by<br />
KEBETKACHE, community<br />
women, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g widows are<br />
demand<strong>in</strong>g to be consulted on<br />
their preferred skills before the<br />
HYPREP planned tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g of 1,200<br />
women<br />
“Some of the women are<br />
expect<strong>in</strong>g to be given tractors to<br />
promote their farm<strong>in</strong>g activities.<br />
The women are expect<strong>in</strong>g to be<br />
<strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> all decision mak<strong>in</strong>g<br />
structures and processes as<br />
regards the cleanup process,” she<br />
said.<br />
HYREP comply<strong>in</strong>g with<br />
UNEP standard —Dr.<br />
Dekil<br />
However, the Project<br />
Facility GEF, sponsors of the<br />
Niger Delta Biodiversity Project<br />
for their concerns.<br />
He, nonetheless, lamented<br />
that the environment is worse off<br />
today than it has ever been<br />
because of high- scale<br />
deforestation, habitat<br />
fragmentation, chang<strong>in</strong>g land<br />
use pattern, climate change and<br />
loss of biodiversity worldwide.<br />
“It is however, <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
note that despite the<br />
perturbations go<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong> the<br />
tropics ra<strong>in</strong>forest worldwide, the<br />
presence of the critically<br />
endangered Sclater’s monkey<br />
specie (Cercopithecus sclateri)<br />
<strong>in</strong> Ikot Uso Akpan Itam <strong>in</strong> Itu<br />
local government area of Akwa<br />
Ibom state has been established<br />
and documented.<br />
“We will cont<strong>in</strong>ue to engage<br />
the public <strong>in</strong> a discourse that will<br />
eventually lead to guided<br />
tourism and so contribute to the<br />
economy of the Ikot Uso Akpan<br />
Itam community, nay Akwa<br />
Ibom, and Nigeria”, he said.<br />
Essien assures govt support<br />
Commissioner<br />
of<br />
Environment and Solid<br />
M<strong>in</strong>erals, Dr. Iniobong Essien,<br />
who commended the<br />
community, said, “It is common<br />
knowledge that Ikot Uso Akpan<br />
Itam is a unique and<br />
outstand<strong>in</strong>g tourism site due to<br />
the presence of Sclater’s<br />
monkey.”<br />
“I therefore wish to<br />
encourage all managers of<br />
culture and tourism at the state<br />
and local government levels to<br />
make the necessary efforts to<br />
develop this site <strong>in</strong> partnership<br />
with the private sector <strong>in</strong> order<br />
to attract both domestic and<br />
International <strong>in</strong>vestors and<br />
tourists.<br />
“The state government will<br />
leave no stone unturned <strong>in</strong><br />
putt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> place the necessary<br />
biodiversity conservative<br />
<strong>in</strong>frastructure that will support<br />
implementation of the ideas<br />
and efforts of the development<br />
partners, particularly, the<br />
ongo<strong>in</strong>g review of our<br />
environmental laws and<br />
regulations,” said.<br />
Commissioner Essien noted<br />
that monkey, tortoise and<br />
crocodile are among the few<br />
fortunate animals that the<br />
Niger Delta Biodiversity Project<br />
is assist<strong>in</strong>g local communities to<br />
preserve <strong>in</strong> the face of<br />
<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g threat to their<br />
survival.<br />
•Mrs. Ukeria Brownson<br />
Coord<strong>in</strong>ator, HYPREP, Dr.<br />
Marv<strong>in</strong> Dekil, stated that<br />
HYPREP <strong>in</strong> implement<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
project <strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e with the<br />
recommendations of UNEP.<br />
Dekil said dur<strong>in</strong>g a visit of<br />
UNEP Representative to Port<br />
Harcourt that the agency gave<br />
women opportunity <strong>in</strong> the project<br />
and they would have more<br />
chances to participate, not<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
the people would get potable water<br />
alongside the project and<br />
livelihood restored.<br />
Niger Delta Voice, 01 - 04-19