Opinion
That Bill Board Porn And Us
The Garrison Bill Board Pornography in Port Harcourt has brought to the fore, the level of depravity among Nigerians. Did we expect it to happen? Why not?
Pornography and other obscene habits have permeated the professional arena, throwing ethics to the wind. There are regulations and terms of engagements of every profession but many organisations have begun to flout them with impurity, following the crowd. What society used to hold with a high level of sanctity has become a toy in the hands of morally depraved persons. Sex and private parts of humans are no longer private.
Pornography would have remained a private obsession among those who enjoy the orgy. Sadly, in recent times, every piece of audio visual clip is littered with pornographic expositions, in the public domain. You see people who are either fully nude or half nude, flaunting themselves where they ought not to be.
It has become more rampant among entertainment artistes who brand themselves celebrities. It is an irony that persons who ought to be celebrated for the joy, knowledge and entertainment which they provide to society do things that activate negative impressions and abuse the sensibilities of the society. A psycho analysis of some of these artistes and note-able persons reveal their mentality, that negative publicity brings popularity. They forget the impact of such dispositions to society.
A celebrity worth the tag is expected to be a role model, because whatever he does affects the morals of their mentees. Those who litter the public space, flaunting their private sexual behaviour go beyond hurting their reputations, if they have any. They endanger the moral fabric of the society. Their licentious behaviour is detrimental to a decent social life style. It does not matter if it’s a Tiwa Savage, a Cross or any blackmailing slay queen.
It is surprising that people associate this indecent behaviour with branding. A negative brand identity is bound to affect the behaviour of many unsuspecting impressionable young minds.
A behavioural pattern that has built up overtime is responsible for that show of shame at the Bill Board in Garrison axis of Port Harcourt.
Advertising media such as outdoor advert facilities are expected to follow all the regulations, ethical codes and terms of engagements stipulated by the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON). Unfortunately, on the 5th day of October 2021, the LED Bill Board located at the Garrison axis close to Rebisi Fly-over in Port Harcourt was streaming pornographic images, raw sexual acts to the public, road users and those doing road side business around there. Road users who couldn’t stand the sight of the orgy reported the matter to the police who immediately arrested two men linked to the breach.
Why middle age men would be streaming pornographic images in a public bill board calls for serious concern, regarding the level of degenerating social behaviour among young people.
Outdoor advertising is designed to create public awareness on goods and services. It is a commercial enterprise aimed at compelling those who need such services to patronise the providers or purchase goods being projected. That bill board show of shame speaks volume about the flagrant disrespect for law and order in our society, especially among the youths. That incident also points to the way society has begun to see sexual behaviour in animalistic perspective. Open sexual behaviour is an animal thing; it is counter to all sense of decency. So, that public show runs counter to our civilisation and so must be checked before we destroy the future of this country.
Young people are already becoming numb on issues of violence. The sound of gun shots no longer frightens them. Blood looks like ordinary water in the eyes of younger people.
Today, violence has assumed a dangerous dimension.
Therefore, if sexual behaviour is allowed to become object of public display, then obscenity would have been glorified to a licentious level of shame and debauchery.
It is important to query the factors that are responsible for these acts of depravity.
Drug addiction has been fingered as a major factor. Young people do things under influence. Substance abuse propels and instigates bad social behaviour and violence. Bad role models have also contributed to these animalistic tendencies, these men and women who ought to be role models have carried the bad behaviour in their closet to the public domain and because of who they are, impressionable minds are copying. Some grownups who enjoy them celebrate them. The rising profile of pornographic film industry in Nigeria should be checked by the films Censors Boards.
All forms of leakages outside the rated platforms should attract severe punishments or outright ban.
What happened at the Garrison Billboard has never been reported in Nigeria. It follows therefore that if these culprits are not penalised in line with the laws of this country, more ugly scenes will surface. APCON therefore, as a regulatory board of all advertising platforms in Nigeria must brace up to their responsibility.
LED Billboards are now live advertising outdoor platforms, there must be close monitoring of the contents that are streamed with closer scrutiny.
The public must lookout for possible breaches and report culprits to the authorities. It is expected that APCON will withdraw the licence of erring advertising agencies and bring down their billboards permanently. Future public show of shame must be nipped in the bud.
No compromises should be allowed. Public Bill Boards must be driver friendly, for road safety reasons and public friendly for moral sanity.
By: Bon Woke
Opinion
Why Reduce Cut-Off Mark for C.O.E ?
Opinion
Welcome! Worthy Future For R/S
Opinion
Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
-
Politics5 hours ago
INEC Trains Political Parties Officials On ICNP Use Ahead By-Elections
-
Politics6 hours ago
Bayelsa APC Hails Late Buhari As Change Agent In Nigerian Politics
-
Politics3 hours ago
Nasarawa Speaker Advocates Conducive Executive/Legislature Relations
-
Niger Delta6 hours ago
Police Rescue Kidnap Victim, Recover Pistol In A’Ibom
-
Nation4 hours ago
HYPREP Reaffirms Support For Ogoni Youths …Organises Workshop For Undergraduates
-
Business6 hours ago
Replace Nipa Palms With Mangroove In Ogoni, Group Urges FG, HYPREP
-
News2 hours ago
Rivers PDP Debunks Sale Of LGA Election Forms
-
Niger Delta6 hours ago
C’River Hands Over Rubber Plantation to Private Company