Rivers
We Didn’t Ask Ogonis To Leave Woji Community –Monarch …Ogoni Leaders Regret Death Of Youth
The Paramount Ruler of Woji Town in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Emeka Ihunwo, has stated that the community did not ask people of Ogoni Ethnic Nationality in the Town to leave in response to the involvement of an Ogoni son in the death of a youth of Woji Town.
Woji Town had been in turmoil for about a week following the death of a youth of the community, Kenneth Eke, last week Thursday when his tenant, an Ogoni man, reported him to the police over a disagreement and the police subsequently beat him to death.
Eze Ihunwo made the clarification on Wednesday when a 15-man delegation of Ogoni leaders, led by the acting Chairman of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers of Ogoni, Mene Suanu Baridam, Gbenemene and Kasimene VII of Bangha Kingdom, paid him a condolence visit at Eze Woji Palace, Woji Town.
He recounted the events that led to the death of the youth in the hands of the police following the report of the tenant, insisting that ordinarily a person that takes a matter to the police did not do a wrong thing, if not for the tragic way the matter had ended.
He stated that Kenneth Eke died after being manhandled by some police officers who were invited by one of his tenants, who happened to be a native of Ogoni, to arrest him (Eke) for evicting him from his house over a rent dispute.
The death of Eke sparked unrest among community youths as they took to the streets and set up road blocks in protest against the incident.
He however announced that the community leadership and law enforcement agencies have brought the situation under control and people are going about their lawful businesses without any form of hindrance.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Woji Community has not asked Ogoni people, or indeed any other ethnic nationality, to leave. We have not done that, and will never do so. We are a peace-loving and hospitable community and will never ask anybody or ethnic group to leave our community. Incidentally, while we mourn the painful and untimely death of our son, the culprits are in police custody. We only ask that the law should take its course. We want to see that justice is done,” the Woji monarch said.
Nyenwe-Eli Woji, on behalf of the people, thanked the Ogoni delegation for their visit and concern over the death of the youth, and assured them of the safety of Ogonis and other residents of the community.
Earlier in his speech, King Baridam said the delegation had come to commiserate with the community on the death of their son and pleaded with Paramount Ruler to ensure peace in the community and that Ogonis and other residents of Woji are safe and secured while investigations on the matter by the appropriate authorities are on.
He said the call had become necessary because of rumours that the community had asked Ogonis to leave the community because of the incident.
Members of the delegation included the Mene-Bua-Sogho, Mene Frank Nule Nam; President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Prince Biira; former Director of Finance and Accounts, NDDC, Chief Derek Mene; Hon. Clifford Bere; Hon. Neka Sam; former spokesman of MOSOP, Hon. Bariala Kpalap; Dr. Samuel Akpekon, and Pastor Lah Zekhue, among others.
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.