Rivers
Nigeria’ll Not Break Up -Cleric
The National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has said that in spite of the security challenges currently facing Nigeria, the country would not break up, as it is going to wax stronger and remain one united and a indivisible nation.
Oke, who made the remarks while speaking with newsmen at the end of a two-day conference tagged, ‘Supernatural Encounter’ organised by the Transformational Bishops Fellowship, Rivers State Chapter in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said through the divine intervention of God, the country would overcome the festering challenges and also not witness another Civil War.
He said the challenges of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, Fulani herdsmen’s threat and other atrocities would soon fizzle out and the country would wax stronger, and urged Nigeirans to remain calm and seek God’s face with prayers.
“ I want everybody in Nigeria to keep calm. Don’t be afraid. These are unusual times. Things are happening like they were not happening before. There is so much tension in the land. Let’s relax. God is in control. And let’s pray and turn to God in true repentance. Nigeria will not scatter. God will bring healing to the land and Nigeria will wax stronger, “ he said.
Oke, who is also the Chancellor of Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan, said the conference whose focal point was to bring revival to the body of Christ and for the church to go back to the Apostolic foundation, had ushered in blessings and peace in Rivers State and Nigeria.
Against this backdrop, the PFN President pronounced blessings on Governor Nyesom Wike, his family, the Cabinet and the state government, saying, Rivers State would enjoy sustainable peace.
Oke, who presented a seminar paper titled, ‘Divine Encounter’ at the event, listed the five triggers and necessary steps the church must follow for it be truly revived.
According to him, they included salvation; prayer and fasting; giving (offering); mission; and sacrifice.
On his part, the President of Transformational Bishops Fellowship, Rivers State, Bishop Joseph Ehbohiemen said with the huge success recorded by the conference, “Expect more fire in the altar. Expect more revival in Rivers State. Things we have heard now, we will apply them. We have been revived. The body of Christ, we are growing.”
Ebhohiemen, who presented a seminar paper titled, ‘Power of Vision’, thanked the PFN President for gracing the occasion.
Also speaking, the National Vice President of PFN, South-South, Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey said Rivers State is privileged to host the PFN President, describing his visit to the state as a new dawn. According to him, PFN has over 60 million members in Nigeria. “It is a great thing to come to Rivers State and bless the land,” he said.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee of the conference and Presiding Bishop of Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries International Incorporated, Bishop Victor Uzosike said there has never been anything like the conference, describing it as amazing, and thanked God for its success.
On his part, the Financial Secretary of TBF, Bishop Ayo Odunayo said the conference lived up to expectation and has ushered the beginning of revival and restoration of the church.
The Secretary of TBF, Bishop Chris Olisah, spoke on the same breath , describing the conference as a real divine encounter in which lives were transformed.
The conference also had in attendance the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Rivers State, Apostle (Dr) Stanley Dimkpa, former Special Adviser to Rivers State Governor on Religious Matters, Bishop Winston T. Iwo, President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rivers State, Bishop Dagogo Jack, General Overseer of Abundant Life Evangel Mission, Apostle Eugene Ogu and Apostle David Adedeji, among other men of God.
By: Donatus Ebi
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.