Rivers
PANDEF, LEADERS OF ETHNIC NATIONALITIES HAILS TINUBU FOR REAPPOINTING SAM OGBUKU AS MD, NDDC,OTHERS
The Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities comprising of Pan-Niger Delta Forum PANDEF and Leaders of Ethnic Nationalities has hail President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Dr. Sam Ogbuku as Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC and others from the extraction
The Ethic Nationalities also applauded Mr President for repositioning the Board of Commission
The Ethnic Nationalities thanked Mr President for retaining the Management Team of the Commission led by Samuel Ogbuku which had exhibited notable competency within the short period; prior to its dissolution.
The Regional Ethnic Nationalities stated this in an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, thanking him for key appointments of their sons and daughters
They commended the President mostly for reappointing the Managing Director, NDDC, Dr Sam Ogbuku and Chairman, NDDC Barr. Chiedu Ebie
The Open letter was signed by the National Chairman, PANDEF, Senator Emmanuel Bok Essien, President Ijaw National Congress INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba and Leader, Coalition of Niger Delta Women, Lady Annkio Briggs and made available to Newsmen in Port Harcourt
The critical stakeholders applauded the President for appointing men of proven records and caliber’s of persons into the board
“It behooves on us, as appreciative Niger Delta people, to express our profound gratitude by publicly thanking you Mr. President, for your kind gestures”.
“It is also worthy of mention how elated we are for the caliber of individuals you assembled for the new board. This has given us high hopes in the future of the Niger Delta”
The Open letter described the Chairman, NDDC Board, Barrister Chiedu Ebie as a man with enormous wealth of experience, key player in the oil and gas sector with credible antecedents, one who cares about the development of the region.
It’s further noted that the reappointment of Sam Ogbuku as Managing Director, NDDC had changed the narratives in the commission and the region at large
The letter noted that Dr Samuel Ogbuku reappointment would bring sustainable partnership, engender global best practices and corporate governance in a bid to reposition the Commission for global business acceptability, robust public-private partnership, such as partnership with Chevron and other multinationals towards citing tangible projects in the Niger Delta, partnership with KPMG for global best practices, corporate governance, signing of a pact with NLNG to maximize impact of development in Niger Delta
The Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities said Dr Samuel Ogbuku’s reappointment has demonstrated that he is a round peg in a round hole and has been deepening stakeholders’ engagement in line with his commitment to the President and the people of the region, promoting federal government’s developmental agenda on one hand, rekindling the hope and confidence of the people, as well as uniting ethnic nationalities towards regional cohesion.
“On the personalities on the new Board, we can categorically say, we have a good team in the saddle as they look flawless to us and we pray they don’t yield to the trappings, niceties and the appurtenances of the office and other negative corrupt influences in the future.
“We therefore, thanked you, Mr. President, for giving the Niger Delta people, and indeed the Niger Delta region, a purposeful Board and Management team.
“We recognize the support and cooperation of the Senate President, our own Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, who with an uncommon precision made the screening process seamless but with dexterity”
“Your Excellency, posterity will not pardon us, if we fail to draw your attention to the unremitted funds due the Commission over the years from both the public and private sector, as this has greatly hindered the Commission from achieving its set objectives hence, we solicit your kind intervention in this regard”.
The regional leaders thanked Tinubu for appointing credible personalities from the region as Ministers and others into positions.
The stakeholders solicited for more appointments for other qualified and dedicated sons and daughters from the region to positions of trust in his cabinets
By: CHINEDU WOSU
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.