Written by Pius Dukor
When some months ago the City of Port Harcourt was strategically placed with medium size of Billboard announcing C-strokes “Reality” but showing the face of the Mayor of Port Harcourt, Hon. Chimbiko Akarolo many were left with bewilderment while some take to political permutations, but a large numbers were left with oblivious and they were not to be blame either.
The Mayor of Port Harcourt as we all know now is a man of many parts especially his pretty good music. Apparently, the significance of the celebration of 100 years of Port Harcourt City is a great coincidence that is celebrated during the tenure of Hon. Chimbiko.
In his characteristic manner, the chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area who is also the spokesman of the chairmen of all the 23 Local Government Area in Rivers State for sure has some political prowess. His Political craftsmanship is exhibited through his programmes and projects. From his days of youth, he has travelled and sojourned in many parts of the states making friends when his late father was a career educationist, a highly discipline personality.
The Late Akarolo also served as a principal at the famous St. Pius Xth College, Bodo City Ogoni were Chimbiko mingled with both the small and the great. In truism, Hon Chimbiko will build on the legacies left by his father. It is on record that Hon. Chimbiko has combined politics with music to serve the people which also feature in one of his tracts. As a chairman of Port Harcourt City he has also find limited time to attend to other untapped ideas of man with creativity which later metamorphosed in complete musical album.
As a man he loved and cherished his late wife, Late Mrs. Caroline Akarolo as the Bible stated “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised” and this is in conformity with the Caroline Akarolo Foundation initiated by the husband.
It is important to note the words of Francis Bacon when he said many years ago that “Men in great places are thrice servants: Servant of the Sovereign or state, servant of fame, and servant of business … it is a strange desire to seek power and to lose liberty”, the Mayor has used wisdom to serve both humanity and mankind.
Notwithstanding some political challenges, he has through his administrative conquest reduced many fake revenue collectors that have also discredited the council in the past.
As we all know, music is the food of the soul even in the worst state of Saul the then ruler of the Israelites, he tasked the young David whom he wanted to kill to play music for his metaphysical calmness. Hon. Chimbiko’s entrance in the music world is a fulfillment of one’s heart desire, with great dexterity and a way of using music to help the less privileged as it is done in the developed countries of the world.
The presentation of Twenty Thousand (N20,000) cheque to many pregnant women was indeed a charity work. The foundation was in commemoration of Late Mrs. Caroline Akarolo, wife of Hon. Chimbiko Akarolo, Mayor of Port Harcourt City.
Furthermore, there was a transition of gloomy scenario to a brighter prospect were his political associates also help in donating to the launch “Reality” some of them danced to the lyrical tunes of reggae dished out by the mayor himself. On the contrary of what represents the symbol of Nigerian “Hip-Hip” music which is an aberration to our cultural norms and values, there was the absence of nudity, sexual exuberance which is a demonstration of neo-colonialism and an invitation of mental slavery and servitude as the characteristics of Nigerian music industry today.
The Nigerian “Hip Hip” music video has a high concentration of pornography which irritate a just mind. More importantly, most of our “future wives” dance half-naked as a prize for celebrity.
Without much circumlocution, there is a clear evidence that the launching of “Reality” album was a day of reckoning where the Mayor of Port Harcourt, Hon. Chimbiko Akarolo thicks audience from Tract 1 to the last part of it. In the word of the great Reggae I con Late Robert Nesta Bob Marley and “Time will Tell”.
