News
Okorocha Inaugurates Imo Traditional Parliament
The Imo Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, on Thursday
inaugurated the state traditional parliament with the mandate to pass laws that
would govern communities.
Inaugurating the parliament, Okorocha said there was the
need to revive long-standing Igbo traditional culture and practices now facing
extinction.
He noted that the traditional parliament, an offshoot of the
Community Government Council (CGC), was necessary because, according to him,
the local government had not lived up to expectations.
“The government at the local government has been hanging.
Until you introduce the community government, governance cannot be said to have
reached the people.
“There is no government when there is no community
government. Before, governance was a top-to-bottom approach, but now it is a
bottom-to-top approach where more power is given to the people,” he said.
The governor urged the traditional rulers to ensure they
made laws that would affect the lives of members of the community and preserve
their culture.
He challenged the traditional rulers to ensure peace and
security of lives and property in their respective communities.
He noted that each traditional ruler would take
responsibility for any breakdown of law and order as well as insecurity in his
area.
“This government will hold the traditional rulers
responsible for any criminal activity in their community.
“The “Ezes” have a duty to help us check criminal activity.
Ezes should question strange faces and activities of people in their various
communities,” he said.
Okorocha said the community government council would
introduce the spirit of patriotism into communities and make each community the
food basket of Imo.
He cautioned against unnecessary award of chieftaincy
titles, saying in the next few years, traditional rulers would be graded
according to the agricultural produce from their areas, number of roads
maintained and number of trees planted.
Also speaking, the Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly, Mr
Benjamin Uwajimuogu, explained that the CGC was passed and signed into law
after a public hearing and deliberations by the assembly.
He said the 49-page law recognised all communities in the
state, adding that the essence was to formalise the existence of community
governance. “There is no way we can develop the community without the active
participation of the traditional rulers.
“The aim of community council is to bring the governor and
community leaders into fusion,” he said.
Prof. Chima Iwuchukwu, the Commissioner for Public Utilities
and Community Government Council, noted that the CGC would bring about peace in
communities and ensure everyone enjoyed equity, and was recognised at all
levels. He said the council would bring development to the grassroots by
relating with both the local and state governments.
“The CGC will succeed because it will relate with both the
local government and the state. It will be government of the people, with the
people and for the people,” he said.
The Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers,
Eze Samuel Ohiri, on behalf of the traditional rulers, commended the governor
for instituting the parliament and for ensuring that the Igbo culture was
revived in the state.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
