Niger Delta
Cleric Harps On Good Leadership
A Port Harcourt-based cleric, Prophet Godwin Gospel, has stressed the need for the people of Alakahia community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State to imbibe the spirit of good leadership by learning the good qualities of their leaders.
According to him, for the people to be good leaders, they must be good followers and disciples by learning the good qualities of those who are ahead of them.
Prophet Gospel who gave the charge in a sermon during the funeral service of Late Chief Ezebunwo Mathew in Alakahia last Saturday said it was only by learning the good qualities of their leaders and not focusing on their mistakes that the people of the community could achieve greatness.
Basing his sermon on the Biblical saying that “it is appointed unto man to die once, and after that, judgement,” the clergyman charged the people to prepare for death, as death could come any time, noting that going by that portion of the Scripture, there was nothing like reincarnation.
He said “those who instigate crisis and war would face crisis even in death and those that kill must never die peacefully,” and stressed the need for mankind to repent and embrace Jesus Christ. “Where will you spend eternity? Where will you be when you die?” he queried, and emphasised that “only Jesus saves, not man, not title.”
In his tribute, Dr. Kinikanwo Anele, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the University of Port Harcourt described the Late Ezebunwo Mathew as the conscience of the Alakahia community, noting that the legacies he left behind would continue to animate the people.
On his part, Chief Daniel Ogbonna Dodo, the Secretary of Alakahia Council of Chiefs said the late Eze Otu Onu brought peace and development to Alakahia community, as his efforts and contributions saved the community from the crisis that would have engulfed it.
According to him, the death of the community leader had created a vacuum that would take the community a long time to fill.
“A prophet has honour except in his own country,” he said, and urged the people to sink their differences for the betterment of the community.
Barrister Juliet Wordu, a daughter of the deceased said the late Eze Mathew fought valiantly like a warrior to overcome the challenges of life and achieved what his contemporaries could not achieve.
Describing him as a diligent and meticulous businessman, a great man and great iroko tree, Barrister Wordu said her father contributed immensely to the development of Alakahia community, as his worthy legacies speak for themselves.
The Chief Mourner, Engr. Iheanyi Kingsley Eze Mathew extolled the good qualities of his father, describing him as a genius, a philosopher and a shrewd politician who had a forgiving heart.
According to him, his late father had taught him the fear of God and the virtue of hard work.
Donatus Ebi
The Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RSBOPP), says efforts are being made to strengthen the existing procurement processes leading to the award of contracts and jobs execution in the state to enhance service delivery.
The Board chairman of the RSBOPP, Lawrence Oko-Jaja, disclosed this while speaking to journalists in his office in Port Harcourt, after a meeting with staff of the agency, last Friday.
Oko-Jaja who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) stated that procurement had become a global issue, stressing that without a proper procurement plan, it would be difficult for any state or nation to move forward in the attainment of its developmental strategies and goals.
The chairman said that the Board had observed some improprieties in the procurement processes and assured that they would take every measure to ensure full compliance with the state procurement laws.
“We will ensure that the laws are followed and we have value for money. We must ensure that money is used for contract execution and not to enrich people’s pockets. We’ll ensure that the money being quoted for any job or contract corresponds with the prevailing market price. We are going to strengthen the monitoring and evaluating team of the Board to perform their duties; going to markets, verify the prices quoted for and also ensure compliance.
“We are going to look into the procurement laws to see how we can close the existing gaps noticed that are not in line with global practices. These measures will also affect local government councils in the state to ensure there is value for money and save money for the state government. And in doing so, the government can spread its services across the state and not in one place.
“His Excellency, the governor of the state has a mantra, “Rivers first”. We are going to ensure we assist him and the state government achieve this policy by ensuring that the procurement laws are complied with and things are done rightly. That is why we are here,” he said.
Oko-Jaja assured that members of the Board would justify the confidence reposed in them by the state governor for the benefit of the state.
Earlier, in an interactive meeting between Board members and staff of the agency, the Board chairman of RSBOPP told the excited workforce that the Board had approved the merger of some departments, namely Legal, Ethics Human Resources and the Facility Management departments to ensure maximum output and efficiency in service delivery.
He said that the Legal and Ethics departments had been merged as one department, adding the Human Resources and Facility Management departments had also been merged.
He told them that going forward every department would also be accountable for its responsibility and announced that the Board had also approved that conditions of service should be put in place for the staff of the agency so that they would grow like their counterparts in the state mainstream civil service.
Akujobi Amadi
The Rivers State Government says it would continue to address the needs of Civil Servants in the State.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara stated this during the Rivers State Civil Service 2025 New Year Thanksgiving Service, at the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
Speaking through his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, Governor Fubara said his Administration is willing and ready to do what will make Civil Servants happy, more hardworking, and more distinguished.
“I want to tell you that you have our ears, and you can tell because when the Head of Service gave his address, there were no demands because while you were yet asking, it was already executed. We want you to know that to whom much is given, much is expected. We do not take your love and support for granted.” Governor Fubara stressed.
The State Chief Executive urged Civil Servants to redouble and rekindle their energy to ensure that the Rivers State Civil Service becomes the envy of Civil Service in Nigeria, noting that the State Government is pleased to work as a family with Civil Servants.
He implored them to continue to uphold his Administration in prayers, which according to him has kept him thus far, adding that prayers would lead them for years to come while asking them to be proud of whom they are as Civil Servants.
In his address, the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nweke, expressed gratitude to Governor Fubara for the implementation of the enhanced minimum wage, payment of Christmas bonus, improved retirement benefits, and creation of employment opportunities amongst others, as well as issuance of SME loans facility to deserving Civil Servants in the State.
Dr Nweke who said the theme of this year’s thanksgiving “Peace Be Still” reminds us that even amid turmoil and uncertainties you can find peace and calm in God’s presence while urging them to pray for continuous peace and development in the State.
In his sermon, the Dean Church of God, Anglican Communion, the Most. Rev. Blessing Enyindah who spoke on the theme “Peace Be Still” drawn from Mark 4:35-41, said storms of life may manifest in different ways and forms, causing us anxiety and sleepless nights but with Jesus Christ by our side, there is hope.
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