By Mr. Amadi Gabriel A and Mr. Kamndu
Ibrahim B. (Lecturers Institute of Archaeology and Museum studies, Jos).
Please, click link for the piece before this one: http://www.belfordscorelines.com/2016/10/concluding-part-akwete-one-hundred-and.html#more
The first set of
British explorers made contact with Akwete in 1890. They were led by a Man
called Annsley. They exploited the people of Akwete so much that they (The
Akwete people) revolted and drove him (Annsley) and his men away. The second
group led by Cairns Armstrong came back to Akwete in 1892. They were warmly
received by the Eze, Okerenta. They negotiated and paid an annual fee of 20
pounds, for a piece of land on the Northern Bank of Imo River. They erected a
house on this Land which served as a residence and out port of the Royal Niger
Company. This fee was called “Comey” by the British and the Akwete called it
"Ekwumiri". British presence
in Akwete changed the affairs of the town. Traders from different parts of
Ngwaland congregated in Akwete for business. Some of them settled permanently
in the Land. As early as 1895 Akwete had become an Urban Area.
The British
introduced their judicial system. A local court was established at Obohia to
regulate businesses between the British, their agents and other traders. Court
messengers, interpreters and carriers were trained to enhance interaction and
business transactions. The relics of their building are still there till
tomorrow.
In 1912, Christian Worship started in Akwete and by 1915, the shrine of Nwa-iyieke was
burnt down. The family of Akparanta was the first to embrace the Christian
faith.
Mr. C.A. Vincent
was in-charge of the Worship centre, which was under a big tree. In 1927 Rev. A.
W. Howels laid the foundation of Christ Church Cathedral in Akwete. This is the
first of its kind in Eastern Nigeria.
Formal Education
went hand in hand with Church Organization and led to the establishment of a
School presently called Community School, Akwete.
The British
built a road connecting Akwete and Obegu. It is called the “Civilization Road”
and still in good condition after several years. It is the first of its kind in
Eastern Nigeria, built by Community labour under British supervision.
The British used
their influence to suppress the Akwete Weaving industry because it was superior
to the clothes imported from Manchester. They latter introduced the English
Akwete. They also banned the production of Local Gin.
In 1895, the
British made contact with Obegu, this is the southernmost town of Ngwaland.
Their foresighted Eze, Ananaba, the Eze-Ali 1 welcomed the British warmly. He
also gave them a piece of land to build a rest House and finally interred into
a treaty with them. Obegu is the last town in Eastern Nigeria where relationship
with the British was through the making of a treaty. Other towns came under the
British sphere by force. This welcome treaty with the British brought about the
Aro-British war (1901-1902) and the exit of the British from Akwete in 1902.THE PEOPLE OF AKWETE BECAME DISENCHANTED WITH THE MEDDLESOME CHARACTER OF THE BRITISH
The British
introduced a strange Religion and destroyed the shrine of Nwa-iyieke. They also
took away the Children of Akwete to their School. They equally engaged in randy
attitude towards their wives and their daughters. The local “Gin” was labelled
illicit and many Men were sent to Prison for just drinking or brewing it. These
were among the sharp practices of the British in business. The people of Akwete
decided that British most leave their Land. They understood that they could not
achieve this militarily and therefore, consulted a diviner who told them what
to do. A swarm of Millipedes was invoked to invade the compound of Royal Niger
Company. The Akwete people were told that the British loathed millipedes and
will abandon the town after the attack of millipedes.
The Charm was
done and the British moved. However, the movement was done because the British
discovered Aba on their pursuit of the Aro. Aba was unique geographically, more
central than Akwete, had fresh water supply from river Aza and the same river
could take them to the Coast because it joined the Imo River in Obet. For these
reasons, in 1902, the British dismantled their building at Akwete and mounted
it in Aba under the supervision of H.M Douglas. It is the present gallery of
National Musuem of Colonial History, Aba.
AKWETE TODAY
Presently Akwete
has lost its status as a seaport and a melting pot in Eastern Nigeria. As the
British Colonial Government went northward, so the influence of Akwete
continued to decline. It started from Aba followed by the establishment of
Portharcourt and finally Enugu which became the capital Eastern Nigeria. As
soon as these two towns became prominent, Akwete was conveniently forgotten.
The railway line from Enugu to Portharcourt did not reach Akwete. This further
dimmed the prospects of Akwete as a mini-seaport. The town has not fared better
in the post-colonial administration. As at the time of this report, there is little
or no form of federal presence, in Akwete.
The political and
commercial influence which Akwete wielded has completely disappeared. Its
seaport status was eclipsed by Portharcourt and her political influence by
Enugu. A lot still remain for Akwete. The town itself wears the face of a well-built
Urban centre of the “old school”. Her Sons and Daughters are prominent in
politics, administration and academics.
Akwete should be
considered for a face-lift by both the Federal and Abia State Governments. It
is disheartening to note that a town, a few nautical miles to the Niger is
completely abandoned
What makes her most relevant are the
relics of the past which are waiting and beckoning for exposition and
harnessing. The town is a gold mine for tourism and tourism development.
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