News
Our Policies Are Hinged On Equity, Justice, RSG Insists
The Rivers State Government has reiterated that all its policies and programmes are hinged on the principle of equity and justice for all.
The State Chief Executive, Chie Nyesom Wike reiterated this during the 3rd National Conference of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, in Port Harcourt, last Monday.
Speaking through his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo , Wike said his administration was totally committed to ensure all decisions are taken for the overall benefit of all residents of the state irrespective of clime or creed.
“Rivers State is hospitable to all as long as you are a law abiding and responsible citizen, you can aspire to the highest level you can attain, without discrimination and that is what we wish for in our beloved nation Nigeria”, Wike stressed.
Wike, who said he believes in the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria, regretted that the unity of the country was being threatened as a result of self-destructive tendencies like ethnic chauvinism, religious intolerance, brazen disregard for the rule of law and nepotism, adding that the Federal Government of Nigeria seems to be fanning these embers of disunity through its perceived actions and in actions.
“How can we explain a situation where almost all the heads of security agencies as well as critical national institutions are headed by people from a particular ethnic nationality and religious faith, in a country which prides itself as a secular state and believes in Federal Character, when it comes to the appropriation of positions”, he said.
He further said a situation where some sections of the country are treated as privileged group while other sections are treated with disdain and impunity leaves much to be desired and must be quickly addressed to engender equilibrium and a sense of belonging to all.
In his keynote address, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who saluted the courage of the media, said the history of our nationhood right from the beginning, and cannot be complete without a place of pride for the Nigeria media.
He praised great patriots like Dele Giwa and Chima Ubani, who paid the supreme price towards building a nation called Nigeria.
Ikpeazu said the media should strive to promote national unity and not division, advocated for a society where the weak, the poor, the voiceless and everybody can aspire and speak what he wants to say and aspire to become, what he wants to become, irrespective of where he comes from, his religion or other primordial considerations.
In his remarks, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who spoke through the Head, NTA Port Harcourt Network Centre, Bosade Adebayo, called for commitment from everybody, and every journalist to write for the oneness of the Nigeria, and also broadcast for the peace, sustainability and development of the nation, Nigeria.
The National President of NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo, had earlier said the union was hosting the conference in order to achieve a national consensus that would help facilitate Nigeria’s response to the growing wave of insecurity, noting that the defeat of terrorism, banditry and other criminal activities while attempting to achieve democratic stability requires the concentration of the mind, especially the invaluable role of the media.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to without delay, reverse its decision to ban Twitter activities in the country which he said was completely at variance with democracy, which Nigeria had signed onto.
In their separate submissions, a former President of NBA, Chief O.C.J. Okocha; a former NUJ President, Sani Zorro; a former NUJ Lagos Chairman & Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, and a media guru, Richard Akinola, stressed the need to rescue journalism profession from untimely collapse in view of different economic and political situations in the country.
Arogundade warned that “we’ll wake up one day, Federal Government would have banned all Nigerians from all the social media platforms including; Facebook, Whatsapp, others.
“How can you ban media organisations from using twitter; now NBC has written all broadcast media to stop using twitter, to even delete their Twitter handles. I have never seen this kind of thing before; all these amount to danger to freedom press.”
Zorro called for caution on the side of all those who were involved in the twitter ban saga.
Highlight of the occasion was the induction of the State Chief Executive, Chief Nyesom Wike into the NUJ Hall of Fame for his outstanding achievements in leadership and infrastructure development.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has alerted the public to a fraudulent message circulating online, claiming that the NELFUND Student Loan Registration Portal is open.
The message directs applicants to a third-party link (http://gvly.xyz/Nelfund-Student-Loan, which NELFUND confirms is unauthorised and fraudulent.
In a post obtained from its X handle, yesterday, NELFUND urged students and the general public not to click on the link or provide any personal information, emphasising that the official loan registration portal is only accessible through the Fund’s verified channels.
The agency reminded applicants to exercise caution online and to report any suspicious links or communications claiming to be from NELFUND.
“Applicants are encouraged to always verify official announcements via NELFUND’s official website and social media channels,” NELFUND said.
This advisory comes as part of NELFUND’s ongoing efforts to safeguard students and ensure the integrity of the student loan application process.
The new Commissioner of Police Eastern, Ports Command, Mr Tijani Fatai has promised to ensure a crime- free ports operations in the zone.
He said effective policing will be mounted across the ports in the zone in tackling the high rate of community unrest, activities of port rats and other social vices.
Fatai while speaking to newsmen shortly after taking over as the 17th commissioner said he wants to be remembered as a peace maker during his tenure as Commissioner of Police in the Eastern Ports Command.
According to him,’’the community policing is the sure way of addressing most conflicts and other social vices bedeviling our society today and I will explore it to its fullest” .
The Commissioner also assured officers of the rank and file of improved welfare whoch he described as a cardinal objective of the present efforts of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
He said,” the Inspector General of Police has sent me to assure you all of welfare, promotions as and when due,no officers particular rank and file will be left behind in the coming months.
Fatai before his recent posting was an operational officer,who spent most of his years with the Police Mobile Force (PMF) where he served as Unit Commander (UC) and Commander, PMF.
Before his redeployment as a Commissioner of Police,(CP), he was the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, DCP, Operations, Lagos State Command.
Thousands of Kalabari indigenes from Akuku- Toru, Asari-Toru, Degema and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas last Sunday gathered at Elem Kalabari in Degema Local Government Area to celebrate what they said is the Kalabari new year amidst pomp and pageantry
According to stakeholders, the event which started over 200 years ago normally falls on the 16th of November every year.
The of this year’s celebration which was organised by Kalabari Renaissance Foundation was “Our Heritage, Honouring Our Waters and Renewing Our Spirit.”
Stakeholders said this year’s celebration was symbolic as it was holding at Elem Kalabari which is the home of the Kalabari people.
The event also featured various masquerade displays from cultural troupes within Kalabari and beyond.
Speaking on the significance of the event, the Amanyanabo of Elem Kalabari (The Source), HRH Mujahid Asari Dokubo, said the celebration signaled a return to the traditional values of the Kalabari people and the need for self-recreation.
“It’s not just about celebration, It’s about recreating ourselves, bringing us back from death.
“The organisation that has come to take over this celebration – Renaissance – really fits the description of what ought to happen to us as a people.
“It’s not just Kalabari; it’s about all of us and our values. We have to look at ourselves and our values,” he said.
Dokubo called on all Kalabari citizens to join hands together to revive their traditional values and heritage in order not to lose their cultural identity and spiritual trajectory.
Also speaking, Harry Awolayeofori MacMorrison, Chief Administrator and Chairman of Kalabari Renaissance Foundation, organizsers of the Kalabari new year festival, said the event marks the beginning of a new calendar year for the Kalabari people, after November 15 of every year when the tide cleanses the pollution from the Sombreiro River inflows, describing it as a renewal of the Kalabari people.
“It’s the renewal of the people. Kalabari area is saline environment and at a time, the Sombreiro River comes in and pollutes the river.
“On the 15th November, across Kalabari, the tide turns and takes all the fresh water that polluted the saline river back to the Sombreiro River
. “On the 15th is the end of the year. Normally when there is an end, there is a new beginning. On the 16th (November) is the beginning of the Kalabari calendar,” he said.
Awolayeofori Mac Morrison said the Kalabari communities had been holding the new year festival separately in the past until the Renaissance Foundation decided to champion a unified celebration to enable them forge a common front of trado-cultural and socio-economic development across the entire territory.
He said last year’s event held at Abalama while they decided to bring this year’s celebration to Elem Kalabari because of it significance to the Kalabari nation.
Also speaking, a member of the planning committee and media lead, Journalist Ibiba Don Pedro, said there was need to reawaken the consciousness of their people on the need to embrace their traditional values without reservations, noting that there was nothing fetish about the festival.
She said the celebration was to unite the Kalabaris as well as project the cultural heritage of the people.
Don Pedro said time has come for Africa to go back to their root , adding that development will continue to elude African countries until the people rediscover themselves.
By: John Bibor, Afini Awajiokikpom, Joseph Miabari Joan, Michael Kingdom & Mary Barugu
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