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COVID-19: Imbibe New Values, Nsirim Urges Monarchs …Raises Hope On Recovery, Discharge Of Rivers Index Case
In a bid to further extend the ongoing sensitisation and awareness creation as a preventive measure to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus in the state, the Rivers State Government has called on the traditional rulers to turn a new leaf by fostering attitudinal change and extend same to their domains.
Speaking to representatives of the traditional institutions drawn from all 23 local government areas of the state, last Friday, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, stated that expectations from the traditional rulers in the fight against the Coronavirus were high due to their prime positions in mobilising grassroots support for development.
Nsirim, who was speaking at a sensitisation and awareness creation meeting with the royal fathers at the Secretariat of the state Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt, noted that one area the royal fathers were expected to play critical role was in encouraging social distancing in the closely-knit culture of their people and ensuring that large number of people do not gather in their domains.
“We have a culture that handshake, embrace, and the likes, are part of us. Now that the virus is here, we’re advocating social distancing, just as we’re explaining here today. We also advocate that people should not gather in large numbers”, he emphasised.
He explained that the meeting was necessitated by the need for the traditional rulers to borrow a leaf from the proactive stance of the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, who he said, commenced preparation for the prevention of the spread of the Coronavirus into the state weeks before the only index case was recorded.
“His Excellency did not wait for us to get an index case before resorting to proactive measures. Our committee was set up so many weeks before we had an index case in Rivers State. The Emergency Operations Centre was also set up; the Treatment Centre was also set up, and fully equipped. This shows that the government is very responsive.
“We began enlightenment: radio, TV, produced billboards, handbills, stickers, and ensured that … stakeholder groups in this state had an interaction with us. The whole essence is to make people living and doing business in Rivers State to understand that we need to imbibe new values as it relates to our health”, the commissioner stated.
In the same vein, Nsirim reiterated that the traditional rulers can take the message to their areas of jurisdiction and pass it on to their people.
“As a committee, we know that the traditional institution will be playing a very critical role in social mobilization and enlightenment of our people, and we desired to have this interaction, and share with you best practices and agreed protocol”, he said, noting that it will also be an opportunity for the government to also have feedback from the people.
“Knowing and acknowledging the importance of the traditional institution in ensuring the success of the fight against the Coronavirus, the governor has always included it in his speeches.
“If you’ve been following His Excellency’s broadcasts, he makes sure that the traditional institution is singled out to be a major player in passing down this message. Not just passing down the message, but also ensuring that in their various domains, nobody flouts the directives”, he said.
Nsirim noted that while the governor acknowledges the fact that some of the steps taken to check infection by the Coronavirus may have been seen as drastic, and made people to feel pain, it is for the overall good of the state.
“The measures that are being put in place are painful, but the point the governor has been making is that it’s a time for sacrifice. You, the traditional rulers, our royal fathers, will need to also pass this message down in your domains, that it’s a season for sacrifice.
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.