Rivers
Rivers Committed To Strong Judicial System – Wike
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State last Friday said that the State government was determined to strengthen the judicial system in promotion of good governance.
The governor made the assertion in Port Harcourt while handing over the Federal High Court complex constructed by his administration to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta.
Wike said the court complex was constructed in a bid to promote access to justice.
He said that part of the vision of the government in expanding the Federal High Court complex was to make the state a judicial hub in the South- South region.
Wike stressed that his administration had not only resolved to complete all abandoned court projects but to also initiate new ones to meet the demand for judicial services.
The governor lamented that in Nigeria the justice delivery system was pretentiously federal but manifestly unitary, saying “our quest for having the most modern and advanced court houses and justice system cannot be completely achieved if we limit our judicial transformation agenda only to state courts.
“This is part of the reason behind our inclusive and non-discriminatory policy trust of providing modern court buildings and necessary operational support to Federal Courts at enormous financial cost to Rivers tax payers,” Wike said.
He said that his government had decided to provide the Federal High Court to serve and advance public interest and not to satisfy any individual.
“Accordingly, we have fulfilled our duty as leaders who mean well for our country and its progress,” the governor added.
He, however, called on the Federal Government to ensure regular maintenance of the building.
Wike, who criticised what he called ‘witch-hunting‘ of some judges, said the nation must find better ways of fighting judicial and other kinds of corruption within the framework of the rule of law.
In his remarks, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta said that the Federal High Court complex in Port Harcourt was the best to be constructed by a state government.
Auta lauded Wike for his commitment to the provision of relevant infrastructure for the Federal High Court.
The Chief Judge pledged that the court would dispense justice according to the law.
He stressed that following the official handing over of the complex, the court would start to use the facility on Monday, May 22, 2017.
The Chief Judge of the State, Justice Adama Iyaye-Laminkara, also expressed joy that the state government had provided facilities to increase access to justice.
Mr Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, commended the Wike administration for opening courts and promoting access to justice.
The former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Onueze Okocha, also noted that the provision of the Federal High Court was a testimony to the increasing performance of Wike.
The Special Adviser on Special Projects to the Governor, Mr Dum Wite said the Complex had six courtrooms and exquisite judges’ chambers.
He said that the complex also had 12 holding cells, changing rooms for lawyers, exhibit rooms and a wide parking lot.
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.