Thank you for your response. Of course I talk because I know history and can give good history of Port Harcourt, Ali Ndam. I am here to educate the ignorants. WHO CREATED PORT HARCOURT? Here is the history: In 1909 when geologist, Albert Ernest Kitson discovered coal in Enugu, the colonial government led by Fredrick Lugard needed a port to export the coal, so the colonial government found a place in Diobu community, Rebisi Kingdom suitable for the project and forced the locals to cede the land to the Government. The Port was built in 1912 with the sole purpose of exporting coal. Since the colonial Government could not find a local name suitable for the new Port, Fredrick Lugard decided to name it after the Secretary to Colonial Government, Lewis Harcourt, so in 1913, the Port became officially known as Port Harcourt and there, a new City, Port Harcourt was born or “created” by the colonial government. The colonial Government Government also took over more lands from the indigenes, planned and built colonial settlements in the places you now know as Town and Old GRA axis. With the Port in operation, it led to an increase in economic activities in the area, Diobu and neighbouring communities expanded which saw the influx of economic migrants, mostly the Ibos (people Okwesilieze Nwodo), into Port Harcourt in search of jobs and greener pastures. Modernisation and Urbanisation of Port Harcourt started in 1956 when Oil from Oloibiri was exported through the Port, effectively turning the City into the centre of Nigerian Oil Economy. Ignorant elders like Okwesilieze Nwodo who misinform their children like you are doing a lot of harm to their children and unborn generations by playing the victim card and carrying out history revisionism. Take a good look at the pictures below, those are Parts of Port Harcourt City. Look at them very well, they are beautiful right? You love them? Eh? Now remember what the Bible commanded you to do in Exodus 20:17: “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbours.” Truth sound like hate to those who have an agenda to bury facts in the grave of lies and misinformation.
Thank you for your response. Of course I talk because I know history and can give good history of Port Harcourt, Ali Ndam. I am here to educate the ignorants. WHO CREATED PORT HARCOURT? Here is the history: In 1909 when geologist, Albert Ernest Kitson discovered coal in Enugu, the colonial government led by Fredrick Lugard needed a port to export the coal, so the colonial government found a place in Diobu community, Rebisi Kingdom suitable for the project and forced the locals to cede the land to the Government. The Port was built in 1912 with the sole purpose of exporting coal. Since the colonial Government could not find a local name suitable for the new Port, Fredrick Lugard decided to name it after the Secretary to Colonial Government, Lewis Harcourt, so in 1913, the Port became officially known as Port Harcourt and there, a new City, Port Harcourt was born or “created” by the colonial government. The colonial Government Government also took over more lands from the indigenes, planned and built colonial settlements in the places you now know as Town and Old GRA axis. With the Port in operation, it led to an increase in economic activities in the area, Diobu and neighbouring communities expanded which saw the influx of economic migrants, mostly the Ibos (people Okwesilieze Nwodo), into Port Harcourt in search of jobs and greener pastures. Modernisation and Urbanisation of Port Harcourt started in 1956 when Oil from Oloibiri was exported through the Port, effectively turning the City into the centre of Nigerian Oil Economy. Ignorant elders like Okwesilieze Nwodo who misinform their children like you are doing a lot of harm to their children and unborn generations by playing the victim card and carrying out history revisionism. Take a good look at the pictures below, those are Parts of Port Harcourt City. Look at them very well, they are beautiful right? You love them? Eh? Now remember what the Bible commanded you to do in Exodus 20:17: “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbours.” Truth sound like hate to those who have an agenda to bury facts in the grave of lies and misinformation.
To answer the questions; “What was Port Harcourt Called before it was named Port Harcourt?” And “What is the indigenous name of Port Harcourt?” The answer is simple. There was no name before it was called Port Harcourt and there is no indigenous name of Port Harcourt. The City exist today because of the “Sea Port” built in 1912 The port was built on the land owned by the locals in a community called Diobu, in a Kingdom called Rebisi by the Colonial Government. Before the Port was built, there was no city. The only thing that existed were communities. By building the Port, the City was birthed. To name the newly birthed City, the colonial Government chose to name her after Lewis Harcourt, the secretary to the colonial government. Hence, Port Harcourt. If the Colonial Government had opted for a local name, it would have been named after the community or kingdom the port was built on and it would have been either Port Diobu or Port Rebisi. Finally, there was no previous name and no indigenous name, the City’s only name since it’s birth in 1912 has been Port Harcourt.
@Manlike_ED You forgot that Port Harcourt at the time it was created was within Owerri Province and the first oil activities in the area were initated by Shell BP Owerri. Even then, Imo, with huge gas reserves, has today a bigger economy per GDP as Rivers State. So what do you want?
@Manlike_ED Wénëm abeg, comot hand for their neck...oxygen don cost. The question is, why can't some persons just respect the uniqueness of diverse ethnicity?
@Manlike_ED Rumu isoma want Rivers state so much.theu develop every where apart from there own state.is funny 😁, I pray make this topic no.scatter my marriage coz e dey pain my wife self when I call them isoma but I can't help it .they like to claim every where
@Manlike_ED What was the name of that place before it was renamed port Harcourt. You failed to tell us that in your story