Rivers
Monarch Extols Late Oba’s Exemplary Leadership

The Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, has extolled the qualities of the Late Oba of Ogbaland, His Eminence, Eze Chukumela Nnam Obi II, describing him as a great intellect, philosopher and a man who left much legacies for his people.
King Jaja, who is also the Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom made the commendation when he led some Rivers State recognised Traditional Rulers on a condolence visit to the palace of the Oba of Ogbaland in Omoku Town in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the State.
The traditional ruler regretted that the council had lost a gem as the Late Oba was a man of great intellect, very humorous and grounded in the culture and tradition of his people, adding that the three-time Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers was a man who loved his friends and people as well as a monarch, who had left so much legacies and imprints on the sands of time in the great council.
The Opobo monarch said when the Late Oba was the chairman of the council, he took the body to greater heights but hinted that his colleagues take solace in the fact that he was a great man that had gone to stay with his ancestors despite having lost a gem, and felicitated with the family over the demise, adding that with his son on the throne, the vaccum created had been filled.
He noted that the new Oba of Ogbaland, Eze (Barr) Nwachukwu Obi III was indeed the right son of his late father, Eze Chukwumela Nnam Obi II, following his being intelligent and grounded in the culture and tradition of his people.
“Infact, God never makes mistakes, where He removes, He fills. I have no doubt that Oba had left a son that can stand any where and with his head high as Oba of Ogbaland. He is confident, intelligent and acculturated. He knows the culture of his people. I have no doubt he will take the Kingdom to a higher level and will achieve more than his father did,” he asserted.
He enjoined the chiefs, elders and people of Ogbaland to rally round the new Oba as he literally described them as children of the new Eze and that they should respect, obey and advise him aright, stressing that the business of the throne is a herculean task.
In his response, the Oba of Ogbaland commended the delegation for their visit and reiterated that the Ogba Kingdom was united and peaceful as bequeathed to them by the ancestors and promised that he would not deviate from that path of wisdom, knowledge and that which recognises man as next to God.
The new Oba of Ogba-land assured of his humility to service for the people, stressing that the people of the Kingdom were happy over their visit and were encouraged and strengthened, as “Your strength is our strength,” adding that, “we are one people who loved and cherished each other”.
Niger Delta
Rivers Begins, Supplemental Polio Vaccination, Morrow

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
Rivers
Obi Donates 80 Desks To Schools In Etche
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.
Rivers
Citizenship Participation Key to Achieving True Democratic Government
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.