Rivers
Rivers NUJ Elects New Officers
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has elected a new set of officers that will steer the affairs of the union for the next three years.
In a keenly contested election witnessed by over 300 members of the union, Comrade Stanley Job Stanley of the Radio Rivers Chapel defeated his main contender and former vice chairman, Paul Bazia of the Rivers State Information Chapel. Stanley clinched 150 votes against his opponent’s 140 votes to emerge as the chairman of the council for the second term.
Okechukwu Maru of the State Information Chapel emerged the Vice Chairman with 145 votes against 140 votes scored by his opponent, Ibim Watson Asako of the Radio Rivers Chapel, while Ike Wigodo of The Tide Chapel was returned as the secretary for the second term having scored 169 votes to beat his main challenger, Obiandu Madume of the Rivers State Television (RSTV) Chapel to a distant second. Madume scored 119 votes.
The election also threw up three female officers including Mrs Doris Morrison of RSTV Chapel as Treasurer, Mrs Esther Obialor of the Treasure FM as Assistant Secretary and Mrs Ominini Leslie-Wokoma of the Rivers State Information Chapel as Auditor.
Mrs Morrison scored 152 votes to defeat her opponent and former Treasurer, Mrs Ifeoma Ossai, who scored 132 votes, while Mrs Obialor garnered the highest number of votes (191), beating her male rival, Lillybox Imikubi, who scored 94 votes to a distant second.
Mrs Ominini emerged the first female Auditor in the history of NUJ, Rivers State Council. She clinched 162 votes to defeat her male opponent, Tonye Orabere of The Tide Chapel who polled 125 votes.
The position of the Financial Secretary went to Fubara Miebaka, having polled 149 votes to beat his only contender and former Financial Secretary, Martins Giadom, who scored 134 votes. Both contenders are from the Radio Rivers Chapel.
The new executive officers who were sworn in Wednesday at about 6.30pm promised to abide by their oaths of office.
The newly elected chairman, Stanley Job Stanley, in his acceptance speech, sued for the cooperation and support of every member of the union and promised to run an all inclusive and transparent government.
He also promised to use his second term to consolidate on the achievements recorded during his first term.
He commended the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim and elders of the union led by former House of Representatives member, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, for restoring peace to the union.
Stanley also commended his supporters, especially members of his consolidation team, for working hard to ensure his re-election and election of other officers of the union.
Earlier, the Vice President, NUJ Zone F, Opaka Dokubo had described the election as free, fair and credible.
He commended journalists in the state for their large turnout and peaceful conduct throughout the voting process in spite of seeming frustrations.
The Tide recalls that the just concluded election had suffered six postponements since August 5, last year when it was scheduled to hold due to misunderstanding arising from the delegates’ list between the two opposing camps that contested the election.
The election impasse was, however, resolved following the intervention of the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Nsirim and elders of the union.
By: Boye Salau
Judges of the High Court, Rivers State state Port Harcourt have resumed their normal Court sitting on Wednesday 30th April 2025 after spending fifteen days this year’s Easter holidays.
It will be recalled that the State High Court Judges had proceeded on Easter vacation on Monday April 14 to 29th ,2025 on the approval of the state chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi.
A statement signed by the Chief Registrar, High Court Rivers State, Port Harcourt, David Ihua _maduenyi, esq said the judges are to resume court sitting on Wednesday 30th April, 2025 in line with the earlier directives from the state chief judge and urged the general public to take notice of the resumption date.
“This is to inform the general public that the judges of the High court of the Rivers state shall resume normal Court sitting after Easter vacation on Wednesday, 30th April, 2025.
“Recall that the chief judge of Rivers state, Hon justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi had earlier directed that judges of the high court of Rivers state, should proceed on Easter vacation from Monday, 18 April 2025 to Tuesday, 29th April, 2025.”
“The general public should take notice:the High court of Rivers state shall resume sitting on Wednesday, 30th April 2025.”
The Management of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, has approved annual free medical checks for all staff of the University. The move is to promote staff sound health and productivity at work place.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, disclosed this during the third edition of the “Walk for Life” health, wellness and fitness exercise, held last Saturday.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the new health policy will enable every staff member of the University to undergo free comprehensive medical check-up on their birthdays, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to promoting the health and wellbeing of staff members.
Professor Zeb-Obipi emphasized that regardless of whether a staff member’s birthday falls on a weekend, the initiative applies to all Rivers State University employees, expressing optimism that the Health Services Department has the required manpower and facilities to manage the novel health policy.
To achieve the policy, the VC said that the Establishment Division will liaise with the Health Services to compile the birthdays of all staff and send notification two or three days before the days their birthdays fall, reminding them to go for their free medical check-up.
Highlighting the importance of active leadership, the Vice-Chancellor stated that leadership requires direct engagement with the people, a principle he called “management by walking the floor,” rather than managing from behind closed doors. He emphasized that policies should be crafted from direct engagement with employees to understand their challenges.
He noted that this edition of the “Walk for Life” health fitness programme serves as a practical example of this management style, allowing him to interact with members of the university community and observe firsthand the need for regular health checks. He described the walk as a “worthy exercise,” pointing out that since most university work is sedentary, periodic physical activities such as the Walk for Life are crucial for the health and productivity of the staff.
The Vice-Chancellor also noted that this month’s “Walk for Life” coincides with the World Malaria Week, underlining the University’s commitment to supporting global health initiatives with the pledge that “Malaria must end with us.”.
Earlier, the Director of Health Services Department, Dr. Dagogo Cookey-Gam, charged the university community to visit the Medical Centre for testing before treatment of malaria. He said parents should watch out for children under 5 years because they can come under severe malaria attack, adding that pregnant women should also be mindful not to be exposed of having malaria due to their low immune system.
Dr. Cookey-Gam noted that malaria can be prevented by maintaining a clean environment and using mosquito nets.
On his part, the Director of the University Sports Unit, Prof. Joseph Vipene, thanked the Vice-Chancellor for sustaining the monthly “Walk for Life” initiative, assuring that the programme which has come to stay has placed the University in an enviable position for others to emulate.
The Police Command in Rivers State has confirmed the commencement of an investigation into the death of a police officer who allegedly took his own life in Port Harcourt.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
“We received a report about an officer who allegedly killed himself.
“However, we are currently investigating the report to ascertain what transpired”, she stated.
Iringe-Koko reported that the Commissioner of Police in the Sstate, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for a thorough investigation.
According to viral reports Monday, Insp. Maxwell Zabu, formerly a security detail to Victor Ihunwo, a former Chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, allegedly shot himself at Ihunwo’s residence in Eagle Island, Port Harcourt.
A source familiar with the incident said the matter was reported to the Azikiwe Police Division in the area.
“Following the report, detectives from the division visited the scene as part of preliminary investigation procedures”, the source added.