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One Year In Office: ‘We’ve Made Tremendous Progress On Governance’ …As PDP Scores Opobo/Nkoro LG Council Boss High
The Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Enyiada Cookey-Gam, has declared that the six-point development agenda of his administration have received tremendous attention with measured successes over the last one year of his administration.
The six-point agenda include security, infrastructure, economy, education, agriculture, healthcare of the people, among others.
Cookey-Gam, who stated this, last Saturday, at Opobo Town while commissioning numerous projects executed by the administration to mark his one-year in office, vowed to build bridges of transformation, especially at the satellite communities with the electrification of the area, provision of more empowerment and welfare programmes for the rural folks and the promotion of peace, security and progress of the people.
He called on the people to support his government to give the people better opportunities to prosper, stressing that government would continue to provide people-oriented projects, if the relative peace enjoyed by the people was sustained.
Also commissioned as part of the event, was a remodelled office to accommodate the DSS, NSCDC, NDLEA and Nigeria Immigration Service, among others.
According to him, “We were able to, apart from the office complex; complete a police station building at Nkoro Town, security post at Opobo New Layout, Opobo/Nkoro Council Staff Quarters, the procurement of office furniture for the LGA, the establishment of Opobo/Nkoro educational reading centre, and the sponsorship of capacity building for Opobo/Nkoro indigenes.
Cookey-Gam used the opportunity to appeal to faithful of PDP in the area to support his leadership.
Also speaking while performing the commissioning of the projects, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Deacon Clapton Ogolo, commended the giant strides of the Chairman of Opobo/NkoroLGA, Hon Enyiada Copkey-Gam,describing his feat in the past one year as remarkable.
Ogolo stressed that the provision of office complex for the accommodation needs of government agencies in the area, among other projects, would go along way to alleviate the challenges they were facing while urging the agenciesto utilise and protect the facilities from theft and vandalisation.
The former commissioner further described the performance of the chairman as good omen for the electorate in the area, adding that,”We should support the administration of the chairman to enable him and his team perform creditably and deliver victory for the PDP in the 2023 general election”.
He admonished the electorate to ensure that they vote PDP candidates to victory, warning that any attempt to vote in another party would be disastrous for them.
In his remark, the PDP House of Assembly hopeful in 2023 for Opobo/Nkoro State Constituency, Hon Adolphus Orubienimigha, lauded the efforts of the chairman on projects delivery, describing him as doyen of quality governance.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Opobo/Nkoro chapter, Mr Godwin Manfred Pepple, said that Cookey-Gam has performed fantastically well, rating his delivery of projects and people-oriented programmes very high.
Pepple said, “As we gather here today for the commissioning of the DSS, Immigration, Civil Defense, Road Safety Corp Office Complex in Opobo Town which is one of the impactful projects of the Chairman of our LGA, Hon Enyiada Cookey-Gam, I’m so delighted to be present on this great day, not only the commissioning of this beautiful structure, but also a beautiful one year anniversary of this administration”.
He said the Peoples Democratic Party, Opobo/Nkoro LGA, is proud of the achievements of Cookey-Ga in the last one year in office.
He listed some of the projects to include enrolment of 20 Opobo/Nkoro indigent students on scholarship into Nigeria Teachers Institution (NTI), Opobo chapter; re-established of two GCE centres in Opobo and Nkoro Town; sponsorship of 100 Opobo/Nkoro indigent students for the Nov/Dec 2021 GCE examination; re-opening of marriage registry and sponsorship for training of personnel from the LGA; sponsorship of members of Opobo/Nkoro 7th Legislative Assembly for training, retreats and seminar; procurement of executive office desks, file cabinets and chairs for council staff; and renovation of the chairman’s official lodge.
Other projects are the total renovation and refurbishment of Opubo Hotel and Resorts in Opobo Town; reticulation of water supply in the LGA Council Secretariat; procurement of security gadgets for all security units and personnel for enhancement of security architecture in the area; refurbishing of security outboard boats for Marine Police patrol; planting of about 800 Royal Palm trees along the Opobo/Nkoro axis of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Unity Road, from Nkoro entrance to Opobo waterfront; completion of the abandoned Senior Civil Servants Staff Quarters; building and commissioning of Security Checkpoint at Opobo New Layout of the Opobo/Nkoro axis of the Unity Road within 12 days; Completion of the Nkoro Police Station, Nkoro Town; the ongoing building of the Multi-Purpose Hall/Museum in Opobo Town; and procurement of five Sienna buses and two mini buses, among other projects.
Pepple also passed a vote of confidence on the impactful performance of Cookey-Gam as he celebrates his one year anniversary as the council boss.
By: Bethel Toby
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
