Rivers
Oyigbo OSPAC Recruits More Members …Applauds Council Chairman For Support
Oyigbo local vigilante outfit christened OSPAC, has embarked on recruitment and training of its members.
Addressing journalists in his office at Oyigbo on Saturday, the General Commander of Oyigbo OSPAC and other local security outfits, DSP Isaiah Emetanjo said the gesture was geared towards injecting refined and able-bodied men and women who are eager to combat crime in the area.
Emetanjo, however, showered encomiums on the Chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Council, Hon Okechukwu Akara for making available the necessary provisions for the outfit to carry out its work effectively and efficiently.
He explained that the body appreciates the chairman for his untiring efforts in making the council and its environs safe for the residents of the area.
He noted that the council chairman deserves commendation for taking the bold step at ensuring that lives and property of his people are protected, a gesture which he said remains the primary duty of a responsible government.
“The chairman in his magnanimity approved the training of OSPAC members, recruitment of more members to sanitise the area amidst prompt payment of its personnel. This is highly commendable. It goes to show his passion and zeal at protecting his people. Today, Oyigbo people can attest to the fact that the council chairman means well for them. As you can see, the conventional security agencies are not left out. The chairman we have now has been able to provide them logistics to carry out their mandate which is the peace everyone is enjoying today. The chairman has demonstrated his capacity and readiness to provide to the local people real governance and the people are happy with him. In all parts of Oyigbo, people can move freely without any threat of insecurity. Businesses are booming and women investors are utilising the opportunity. The citizenry are heaving a sigh of relief which is the hallmark of leadership. We are preparing to unveil the new recruits as it will boost the security architecture of the area especially during the ember months. We are on top of the gear to secure lives and property and ensure Oyigbo is safe,” he declared
The Oyigbo OSPAC commander further implored well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to support the chairman in his bid to rid the area of crime.
He said the business of security should concern everyone, hence, the need to contribute in the areas of infrastructure, logistics and others.
Similarly, Rivers State Hawk Commander, SP Amusiu Isah, says the command is doing its best in the fight against crime.
SP Isah, however said the mopping up of crime remains his command’s sole responsibility which has been a collaborative effort with sister agencies.
Isah warned those involved in crime to desist or face the full weight of the law as crime does not pay.
As part of measures to enhance security expertise, ,he said the new recruits will also be trained by a team from all the security apparatus including the Nigeria Police Force; the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); the Department of State Services (DSS); and other security outfits.
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.