Rivers
Wike Lauds LG Chairman’s Development Strides
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has lauded the development strides of the Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Dr. Chidi Lloyd.
Wike, who expressed happiness over the infrastructural achievements of the LG boss in two years as Chairman, said his happiness is borne from the fact that Dr Lloyd has not disappointed his people who elected him to oversee their affairs.
Wike made the commendation in Rundele, at the commissioning of the newly constructed Uke-Eli Road, which was conceived, executed and completed by EMOLGA boss.
The Governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Engr Chukwuemeka Woke, described Dr. Lloyd as a courageous administrator who is determined, committed and focused towards the development of his people.
“The Chairman of our party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it all that you’ve redefined Local Government administration, and you have also attributed your performance to the support you enjoy from the leadership of our party in the LGA. So, me, I want to thank you for not disappointing us.
“Above all, I want to say that it takes a man of courage and determination; it takes a man who is focused to embark on these gigantic projects and complete them as a local government council. It is not just about the availability of funds, one must have the courage and vision to embark on these kind of projects.
“So, we thank you, and we thank the people of Emohua Local Government Area for giving you their mandate, and we thank God today that you have not disappointed them”, he stated.
Wike also thanked the people of Rundele for standing by his administration from its inception in 2015, while encouraging stakeholders in the area to continue to promote peace and unity amongst the communities to attract government presence to the area.
He noted the requests made by the community in their address and promised to communicate same to the incoming administration in the state in the handover note to the next Governor.
The Governor also commended the council Chairman’s commitment to the war against resurgence of crime and criminality in parts of Emohua LGA, assuring that the State Government was solidly behind the council chairman’s effort to eradicate armed robbery and cultism in the LGA.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Amb. Desmond Akawor, said the Chairman of Emohua LGA has redefined local government administration with a sterling performance, especially in infrastructure development.
Represented by the State Secretary of PDP, Dr Benibo George, Akawor noted the importance of infrastructure development to the urbanization of Emohua LGA.
The state Party Chairman further noted expression of joy and happiness amongst the people of the area, which, he said, indicates that the people appreciates the council chairman’s performance, stressing that every good work attracts reward from the people.
“As we came here, we sew the expression of happiness on the faces of the people, which indicates that Dr. Lloyed is actually performing very well and we seriously appreciate that.
“Recall that we were here last year on behalf of the Governor to also commission a road project executed by Dr. Chidi Lloyd’s administration. Today, we’re here again experiencing another road commissioning by the same administration. This is a clear manifestation that local government can actually embark on road projects.
“We are very much impressed that the narrative has been changed by Chidi Lloyd, that jinx has been broken and this is very remarkable and commendable.
“To my brother, Chidi Lloyd, I want to say that one way of asking for more is to do more; if you do more, more will be given to you and we encourage you to do more”, Akawor stated.
In his address, Dr. Lloyd attributed the achievements of his administration within two years to the support from stakeholders and councillors of the LGA.
He particularly thanked the leadership of the PDP in Emohua LGA for their continued cooperation and support to his administration and promised never to let them down.
Lloyd enjoined the people of Rundele, the direct beneficiaries of the newly constructed Uke-Eli Road, to ensure that the road is protected from illegal petroleum refining and oil bunkering activities which he described as a treat to the newly asphalted road.
The council Chairman commended residents and property owners along the Uke-Eli Road for their cooperation and support during construction of the road, especially those who willingly removed their properties in the right of way to ensure a successful implementation of the project.
He also expressed gratitude to the management and principal officers of Emohua local government council, particularly the Head of Local Government administration (HLGA), the Head of Personnel Management (HPM), and the Council Treasurer (TR), for their support to his administration, especially in policy implementation.
Also speaking, the Paramount Ruler of Rundele clan, HRH Eze Damian Ejiowhor, who led the Rundele Council of Chiefs and Elders to honour the Governor of Rivers State and the Chairman of Emohua LGA with chieftaincy recognitions, said the people of the area are grateful to Governor Wike for the appointment of indigenes of Rundele as commissioner and Permanent Secretaries in his administration.
He said the people will forever remain grateful to Dr. Chidi Lloyd for the construction of Uke-Eli Road, which he described as an alternative route into and out of Rundele communities.
Providing the project description, the Local Government Supervisor of Works, Hon Solomon Ikpo, said the Uke-Eli Road was formally impassible due to the water settlement in the area.
He explained that the road was conceptualized at 1.5 kilometer long with 1.5 kilometer drainage on each side of the road, amounting to a total of 3 kilometer drainage on both sides of the road, with 6cm asphalt pavement compressed to 5cm to withstand the swampy nature of the area.
Earlier, the councillor representing ward 7 (Rundele) in Emohua local government legislative assembly, Hon Emenike Wokama in his welcome address expressed gratitude to Dr. Chidi Lloyd for giving the people of the area a brand new road which he said is exceptional in local government administration.
The chairmen of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leadership caucus in Emohua, Eze Paul Wonodi and Elder Lawrence Amadioha, and the paramount ruler of Akpabu and Itu, HRH Eze G.C Ordu were among dignitaries who attended the historic event in solidarity with the administration.
Other dignitaries in attendance included: Chief Sampson Agbaru (Former SSG and Head of Service Rivers State); Honourable Commissioner, Rivers State Ministry of Environment, Hon Barr. Emenike Eke; Member representing Emohua Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon Sam Ogeh; Former commissioners, Hon Charles Beke, Elder Chinedu Tasie Nwobueze and Hon Arthur Uchendu.
The ceremony also featured the donation of solar street lights by Mr Kelvin Okoro, a former special assistant to Dr. Chidi Lloyd, as part of his personal contribution to the road project in his community.
By: Theresa Fredrick & Charity Amiso
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.