Rivers
Group Leader Promises To Consolidate On Wike’s Achievements
The National President of Community Reformed Youths Initiatives ( CRYI), Engr Danago Taribo Wenik-Briggs, has promised Rivers people of his plans to consolidate on Governor Nyesom Wike’s programmes and projects, if elected as the State Governor come 2023.
Wenike-Briggs made the promise when he received in audience the executive of Mass Mobilisation for True Democracy ( MMTD), who honoured him with an award of recognition in his office in Port Harcourt recently.
He called on Rivers people not to be jittery over the issue of who will step into Wike’s big shoes, and said that the Messiah was already on ground.
The CRYI boss further told his audience that more industries will be established to absolve more youths into gainful employment which will not only address the challenge of unemployment but that of crime blamed on idleness.
He also told the group to live up to their name and not play any hide and seek game targeted at immediate profits without considering the future.
Meanwhile, the founder and President of the group, Comrade Eferebo Daniel Briggs, has said that their choice of the CRYI boss for the number one political office of the state was born out of their general findings and profiling that placed him top among others.
”We endorsed the gubernatorial ambition of the National President of CRY Initiative, Dcn. Danagogo Taribo Wenike Opurum Briggs in the 2023 general elections, because of his philanthropic and God- fearing nature”, he said.
To support the popular view of the people on the issue of riverine governorship candidate, he pointed out that the Kalabari axis should carry the day.
He also pointed out that Wenike-Briggs has through the CRYI platform, reoriented many young people on why they must not be willing tools in the hands of greedy politicians who only use and dump them after the elections.
“This group has been working judiciously to select the best candidate for the job. Though, we have many candidates from the riverine and other parts of the state, we must choose a good God fearing candidate to pilot the affairs of the state with fear and integrity for the state”, he said.
Another reason he advanced for the visit was to officially endorse their host for the Bricks House race for next year and to assure him of their support, before, during and after the elections.
“We are here to endorse Danagogo Wenike-Briggs and work closely with him. We have our presence cut across the 23 LGAs of Rivers State and five other states of the federation.
In order to ensure this aim is achieved, we call on all Rivers indigenes and non-indigenes to join us in making it come true for the benefit of the state”, he said.
He has also appealed to all eligible voters to hurry and get the voters card, adding that the 2023 general elections need tenacity and audacity to make it work.
Describing Wenike-Briggs as the man with the magic fingers to fix the state, he called on all to queue behind him, if they want a consolidation of what Governor Nysom Wike is doing in the state.
By: King Onunwor
The Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) says it will commence Supplemental Immunization activities on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to vaccinate children from 0-5 years across the State.
The State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, who stated this during a sensitisation meeting with Media Advocate for Health, Rivers State, on the update of immunization exercise in Rivers State, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is a re-enforcement of the routine immunization at the health facilities.
According to her, it is aimed at boosting polio immunisation against the circulating variance of polio virus currently threatening the total eradication of polio in the country.
She further stated that there are four pillars of polio eradication, namely routine immunization (administered on babies in the health centre), supplemental immunization activity (supplements to boost the babies), surveillance (searching for children that have weakness in their legs or some oart of their bodies), and outbreak response.
The Health Educator noted that the Novel Oral Polio Vaccination Type 2 (NOPV 2) will be administered to children under the age of 0-5 years, which targets a specific polio still in existence in communities and capable of causing paralysis among the stated categories of children, despite the country being certified a polio-free nation.
Dr. Babbo further stated that this year’s NIPDs will address the high number of unresolved non-compliance cases in the State.
She debunked what she tagged a false rumour by mischief makers which claimed that the vaccines are responsible for the development of autism in children.
She said, “vaccines are not known to be responsible for the development of autism. We’re just hearing that. The truth is that one cannot know everything.
“That aspect that has been found, have we looked into other aspects, such as genetically modified foods, drinks, and milks that our children are taking?
“Have we also looked at genetic compatibility between couples before we now say vaccines are causing x, y, z things?
“Are we looking at the environment where these things are happening, what they are peculiar to?
“It must not be peculiar to all the families, there could be something also that’s happening around that we have not known. Research is evolving, let us not accuse our precious vaccines that have succeeded so far in my knowledge, to keep as many sicknesses at bay.
“The reason we do not have small pox in our world today, apart from the lab (a bio-lab) is because we vaccinated to the point where we were able to move small pox totally out of existence from human beings. We can succeed with that same pattern with all kinds of viruses”.
She stated that the connection between autism and vaccination could merely be coincidence.
Babbo, therefore, urged all parents, churches, and school owners to avail their children/wards the opportunity to be vaccinated against polio the stated exercise.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Engr Obi Fortune, a renowned philanthropist, has donated 80 desks to four secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The donation is part of his commitment to advancing education in the area.
The schools that benefited from the gesture includes- Community Secondary School Umuoye.
Community Secondary School Akwa- Government Secondary School Ozuzu and Community Primary School Okehi 2 and all the schools got 20 units each of the desks.
Speaking during the brief handing-over ceremony held recently in okehi recently, Engr Obi stated that the donation fulfills his promise to use proceeds from his book sales to procure desks for schools in the LGA.
He disclosed that more desks will arrive soon and expressed his continued commitment to supporting education in the area.
Obi urged the schools to make good use of the desks and called on other individuals to contribute to the educational needs in the area.
This gesture demonstrates Engr Obi’s dedication to improving education in Etche LGA.
A professor of social and political philosophy at Rivers State University (RSU ) Nkpolu Oroworukwu port Harcourt, Prof Agha Eresia _Eke has emphasized that citizenship participation is crucial for achieving true democratic government. He stressed that citizens’ involvement in exercising their basic rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, is essential for a democratic institution to thrive.
Eresia _Eke stated this while presenting his inaugural lecture at the 111 university’s inaugural lecture series with the topic “Nigeria Democratic practices:a contextual paradox”held at the university senate auditorium in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
According to him, core democratic values which include:,- Respect for individual rights and freedoms, Protection of human rights and fundamental freedom, Equality before the law, Freedom of speech, assembly, and association, Protection of privacy and personal autonomy.
“Through out history, the problem that has agitated social and political philosophers has been to work _out a model for the realization of the common good of man.
Man has always sought and developed methods and systems of organising himself according to his true nature as a rational being.”he stated.
Eresia-Eke notes that Nigeria is not practicing a true federalism and highlights the importance of a pragmatic approach to democracy, where ideas and solutions are tested and refined in real-world environments.
He emphasized that citizens must hold their leaders accountable and demand respect for human rights, stressing that by doing so, citizens can undertake their civic obligations and responsibilities, strengthening society as a whole.
Earlier in his address, the Vice chancellor of the university, Prof Zeb _Obipi commended the lecturer for his brilliant performance, adding that he has justified and proven that he is a professor in his area of specialization.
The VC averred that the university has been consistent in the inaugural lecture monthly and assured that his administration will continue to continue to keep the trend.