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The Shaking House Of Intellect
A recent news about the dismissal of an academic staff in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, came a few days after a press release by the management of Rivers State University about a similar dismissal of a professor. Certainly, such dismissals must have been preceded by a thorough internal inquiry into allegations of some wrong doing. Hopefully, such inquiries must also have followed the rule of fair hearing and opportunity for an appeal. By the house of intellect, the mind of the reader should please go far beyond tertiary and other institutions of learning where intellectual quibbling pass for the search for truth. As a matter of truth, intellectual culture is a movement which began long ago and whose mission has been to confine and narrow down the scope of perception of humanity. High priests of that movement or culture were the custodians of various responsible for their propagation, truth-wise. Therefore, the house of intellect has many posts and mansions, ranging from academia, monarchy, the ecclesia, the arena of macho-men and the party or profession of death. There are those whose mission is not towards the enhancement of life, but the elimination of those who express contrary views from what the house and culture of intellect had erected as absolute truth. Historically the war of supremacy initiated by the high priests of the intellectual culture had its bloodiest arena in religious movements and proselytism. Readers who may be interested in this line of inquiry, including what horrors humanity had experienced in the past, are enjoined to read The Spanish Inquisition by Jean Plaidy (1978). Similarly, the Crusades or military expeditions between 1096 and 1272 sought to recover the “Holy Land” from the Moslems. History of horrors! Humanity did not experience only history of horrors arising from intolerance, but more of a tyrannical movement to keep the minds of humans as narrow as possible via instruments of fear and intimidation. Such movement of horror and mind control did not begin with Emperor Nero of ancient Roman civilization, neither did it end with Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany. The Dark Continent of Africa had untold stories of village tyrants and flesh-eating macho-men. Today, emphasis tends to be focused on our institutions of learning, with “sorting, extortion of money and sex for grades” as deadly sins and signs of ultimate debauchery. But these are merely some of the visible evidence of the manifestations of movement of the intellectual culture. This unfortunate trend was enthroned a long time ago and it gradually took roots in the human mind with attendant expressions in actions, attitudes and value orientations. Hardly is anyone left out, except that hypocrisy is a ready camouflage.
Effects of the slow poison of the excrescences of the intellectual culture play out in the enthronement of tyranny and intolerance of contrary views. From the home, to national and international settings, there is the adoration and adulation of precocity or intellectual smartness. Parents take pride in showing off precocious children who become more clever than their grand parents. There begins the shaking of the house of intellect. At a certain time in Nigerian university system, there arose a policy that lecturers without PhD, degrees would be weeded out of the system. At the back of that policy were some dark and myopic motives. For example, Professor Wole Soyinka was not known to hold a PhD Certificate and there were many professors with only first degree, but were role models. In the good old days, professorship was determined by the fact that a university don had some value, ideal or value-added knowledge to profess to humanity. But later-day intellectual heroes and militants, discovered and spread the ideal that big certificates and appellations were synonymous with character, knowledge and productivitiy. Thus began another stage in the shaking of the house of intellect. Money is known to be an able soldier and so powerful that where it steps in, all roads would lie open. For those who have not heard, known or believed, big certificates can be bought and sold, not only in Toronto but in any back-house of intellect. Current stage in the shaking and spoiling trend via intellectual sagacity takes the form of putting square pegs in round holes. By this is meant wrong and corrupt deployment of human talents, skills and abilities where they do not belong or fit in most. Faces of corrupt practices feature where those who should engage in something else become educators and politicians. The result is the abuses of power. Shakespeare would say that humanity is still deceived with ornaments; but have there not been stories of clergy-men eating pepper-soup make with placenta of a woman seven hours after birth? Since eaves dropping and electronic capturing of dark, secret deeds have become popular pranks, Nigerians can expect more shocking revelations. By the way, walls have ears and no deed remains hidden forever! But many believe their sins are hidden! There are individuals and organisations with records and evidence of shocking deeds but who, for security reasons, would not let the cat out o f the bag. It is needful also that Nigerians be cautious of wearing the garb of hypocrisy, in spite of the prevailing culture of sanctimony. The shaking house of intellect will throw up more debris and scum that would be more putrid than we would tolerate. The shaking has begun. From the university system, the shaking would extend that harbour the intellectual virus.
Bright Amirize
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RSG Approves Full Rehabilitation of State Secretariat …Unveils Housing Scheme for Civil Servants, Honours Veterans
Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Eteh Ibas (Rtd), has approved the complete rehabilitation and modernization of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex to enhance efficiency and productivity in the civil service.
Ibas made the announcement at the 2025 Civil Service Week Gala and Awards Ceremony held at Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday,.
He disclosed that “initiative is designed to transform the secretariat into a modern, efficient and conducive work environment, directly supporting the civil servants who form the backbone of the state’s governance.”
The Administrator also approved the provision of 106 housing units for civil servants in the State.
Ibas paid glowing tribute to retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, describing them as the bedrock of the state’s administration.
He stated that the awards ceremony was a symbol of deep appreciation for decades of sacrifice, resilience, and commitment.
“These interventions are designed to not only recognize your service, but also to improve your welfare in tangible and lasting ways,” the Administrator stated.
“We must build an administration that is efficient, effective, and truly citizen-centric,” he added.
The Administrator urged serving officers to draw inspiration from their predecessors and strive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of citizens.
He emphasized the importance of embracing innovation, technology, and continuous training to build a civil service equipped for the future.
The Acting Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi Brown, in her welcome address, described the civil service as the “engine room of government” and expressed profound gratitude to the Administrator for his unwavering support and commitment to its modernization.“
“A society that does not honour its heroes is not worthy of emulation,” Dr. Brown remarked, lauding the retirees as torchbearers of discipline and loyalty.
She pledged to build on their legacy through reforms and innovation, projecting that the Rivers State Civil Service would become a model of efficiency and transparency by 2030.
Speaking on behalf of the retirees, President of the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Sir Promise Njowhor,
expressed heartfelt appreciation for the historic recognition.
“For once, since the creation of the State, we are being honoured,” Njowhor said, adding, “Our morale has been lifted.”
He pledged the association’s continuous support for government programmes, describing the body of experienced retirees as a resource available to contribute to state development.
The rehabilitation of the State Secretariat and the new housing scheme represent a major investment in the infrastructure and dignity of public service in Rivers State, signaling a new era of support for the civil servants who drive the government’s policies and programmes.
The Tide reports that the Administrator also conferred awards of meritorious service on retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in the State
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won 20 out of the 23 local government areas in the just concluded local government election in the State, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched three local governments.
According to the results released by the Rivers State independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), yesterday, the APC won the chairmanship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Opobo Nkoro, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana local government areas.
APC also won in Gokana, Tai, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche, Omuna, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Degema, Ikwerre and Emohua local government areas.
The Commission, however, said the PDP won in Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, and Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government areas.
Chairman of the Commission, Dr Michael Odey, who announced the results at the Commission headquarters in Port Harcourt, said Ofori Owolabi of the APC scored 28,755 votes to emerge winner of the election for Abua Odual while Solomon Ochomma, also of the APC, emerged chairman elect for Ahoada East after scoring 54,509 votes.
Odey said Eugene Epelle also of the APC scored 84,125 votes to emerge winner in Ahoada West, while Bob Fubara was elected the chairman-elect for Akuku Toru after scoring 63,593 votes.
Similarly APC chairmanship candidate Lucky Otuo Promise emerged chairman-elect for Andoni after scoring a total of 126,181 votes, APC’s George Onengiyeofori emerged winner in Asari Toru after scoring 56,383 votes, while Pepple Blessing Abinye garnered 13,543 votes to emerge winner in Bonny Local Government Area.
Other APC candidates elected include Michael John Williams who scored 16,536 votes to emerge chairman-elect for Degema Local Government; Obarlllormate Ollor (77,452) for Eleme; Dr Chidi Julius Lloyd (114,380) for Emohua; Njoku Boniface (100,649) for Etche; Confidence Deekor (96,478) for Gokana, while Wobodo Charles got 62,746 votes to emerge winner in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
Other APC winners from the APC include Akuro Tobins (32,285 votes) for Okrika; Hon Obasi Uchechukwu (38,530) for Omuma; James A James (38,822) for Opobo Nkoro; Vincent Nemieboka (36,374) for Ogu/Bolo; Hon Mbakpone Okpe (70,080) for Tai LGA, while in Oyigbo, Okechukwu Akara scored 101,495 votes to emerge winner.
Meanwhile, the RSIEC chairman announced Dr Gift Worlu of the PDP with 328,823 votes to emerge winner in Obio Akpor; Shedrack Ogbogu, also of the PDP, scored 51,051 votes for Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area, while in Port Harcourt City, Sir Alwell Ihunda garnered 235,054 votes for PDP to emerge winner.
The APC also cleared the councillorship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche,Tai, Khana Opobo/Nkoro and Degema local government areas.
Similarly APC councillorship candidates also emerged winners in Asari Toru, Degema, Akuku Toru, Gokana and Khana while PDP cleared the councillorship seats in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt city, and Ogba Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Areas
Meanwhile, the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions has passed a vote of confidence on the just concluded local government election in the State.
National Chairman of the forum, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
Eri said all the chairmen across the country were in Port Harcourt to monitor the election as well as gain experience in an election under emergency rule.
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