Rivers

Wike, Fubara Feud: Opobo Elder Statesmen Preach Peace …Urge Minister To Reciprocate Gov’s Peace Overture

Published

2 years ago

November 20, 2023

A socio-political group in Rivers State, Opobo Elders Statesmen, has added its voice to the seeming feud between the Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, and canvasses the need for amicable settlement and resolution through peaceful dialogue, understanding and fair play. This is even as they appealed to the Minister to reciprocate Governor Fubara’s peace overture.
The group, which made its position known in a statement signed by its Chairman of Board of Patrons, Alabo Dr Reuben Meitamuno Saturday Jaja; and the Chairman of the Board of ExCO, Alabo Edwin Jacob Cockeye Brown, said from history, Opobo is known to be an Ijaw tribe of Ibani extraction with the track record of promoting peace and freedom through dialogue and constructive engagement in resolving conflicts.
“ Because we know that in every interaction between humans, problems or disagreements are inevitable, and must be resolved through peaceful dialogue, understanding and fair play,” it said.
It further noted that several groups had emerged pitching tents in the defence of the Governor and the Minister respectively, along ethnic and political lines, contending that the actions and utterances of these individuals and groups have impacted on the temperaments of both, in what it said is in a bid to bring about the timely resolution of the friction.
According to the group, “Even the silence and inaction of the others on the fence are also contributing to the resolution of the matter.”
To this end, it thanked all the individuals and groups, who have played various active roles in dousing the tension resulting from the conflict in the State, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark for mediating in the matter.
The group equally expressed delight that Governor Fubara has followed the path of reconciliation during his meeting with the Minister at the Rededication Service of the 2023/2024 Legal Year of the Rivers State Judiciary at St Cyprian’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt, on Thursday, November 9, 2023 where he noted that he has not “sent anybody to malign anybody,” saying, “the path of peace followed by the Governor is the manifestation of the quintessential peaceful nature and character of the Opobo man for which we are not surprised, and commend very much”.
It further indicated that both the Minister and the Governor are Opobo sons.
“ The Minister is an adopted son of Opobo who has made enormous contributions to the development of Opobo Kingdom. Consequently, we have actively related with all the stakeholders at the state and national levels to pursue the path of peace and fair play without heating up the polity. In the light of the above, we appeal to His Excellency, the Minister of FCT, the holder of the prestigious Opobo Kingdom title of Amafurotubo of Opobo Kingdom ( an Ijaw title meaning “ indigene or native” of Opobo Kingdom) conferred by His Majesty King Dr Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V, CFR, Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Opobo Kingdom with the symbolic Golden Key which regularly enables him entry into and exit out of the Opobo Kingdom, to reciprocate by accepting the Governor’s peace initiative in the spirit of Opobo brotherhood and family,” it said.
The group also condemned the unprofessional conduct of some members of the Police Force in the State during the protest that followed the impeachment saga, which led to injuries and deaths, and prayed the souls of the dead to rest in peace with the Lord.

Rivers

Insecurity: Paramount Ruler Seeks Profiling Of Residents

Published

15 hours ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

A Paramount Ruler in Rivers State, Nyenweli Elele-Alimini, in Emohua Local Government Area, Eze Peter Wagbara CP (rtd.), has called for the profiling of residents in his domain in order to forestall security threats and challenges.

The Nyenweli made the call at the weekend during the Ogbakor Elele Alimini 2026 first meeting held at their Kingdom Civic Centre in Elele, Alimini.

According to him, the step would help relevant authorities to keep tabs on residents and curtail criminality in the area.

The Paramount Ruler promised indigenes and non-indigenes living and doing business in the area of adequate security of their lives and properties.

“Inspite of the negative reports about insecurity in part of the country, I want to assure the people and residents of Elele Alimini of adequate protection of their lives and properties, hence the need for water-tight security throughout the nooks and crannies of Elele Alimini.

“Following the influx of people into Rivers State, particularly Elele Alimini right now, I want to charge chiefs and landlords in our kingdom to profile their tenants, religious leaders of the various faith-based organizations and commercial transporters in our domain”, Eze Wagbara said.

The retired Commissioner of Police stated that despite the violence and banditry in parts of the country, chiefs and elders as well as leaders of thoughts within his area would work closely to ensure peaceful co-existence among residents of Elele Alimini, adding that “it is one God, one Elele Alimini, and one destiny” under his reign.

He commended members of Elele Alimini Council of Chiefs and Elders as well as the CDC Chairman and the Youth President for their contributions toward the socio-economic development of the area.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Elele Alimini Gospel Ministers Forum (EAGMF), Apostle Hope Abikari, said there were a lot of churches serving God in Elele Alimini with different doctorines and practices and stressed on the need for confidentiality in handling of religious matters and related issues in the area.

“Eze Sir, I want to inform you that there are a lot of churches at Elele Alimini today serving God. In fact, this invite to religious leaders at Elele Alimini is very crucial. There is need to arrange for a fresh private meeting with religious leaders in Elele Alimini, which should be confidential. I suggest that a committee be set up to look into the activities of churches in Elele-Alimini”, he added.

He described Eze Wagbara as a Monarch who has the interest of his subjects at heart, and lauded Eze Wagbara and his Council of Chiefs, as well as members of Ogbakor Elele Alimini for their quality leadership in the kingdom.

On his part, the Chairman of Motor Cycle Operators Union of Nigeria, Elele Alimini Branch, Comrade Obuah Emeka, said members of the union who operate within Elele Alimini and Elele Okinali would render efficient services to commuters/passengers in the area.

Comrade Emeka explained that members of the union were not involved in crimes, noting that they do not constitute nuisance to the society.

He, however, promised to co-operate with the leaders of Elele Alimini in order to ensure safety within the area.

Rivers

KENPOLY Matriculates 4,350 Students

Published

15 hours ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

The management of Kenule Beeson Saro Wiwa Polytechnic (KENOOLY), Bori, has matriculated a total of 4, 350 students into the 2025/2026 academic session.

The management said the matriculation ceremony is officially admitting students into various National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) courses in sciences, Engineering, Environmental and Management Technology, spreading in five different schools of the institution

Speaking at the event, the Acting Rector of the school, Dr. George Chile Wadike, told the matriculants that “the matriculation marks the beginning of a long and challenging, but fulfilling journey in your academic development. I implore you to be resilient, focused and dedicated to the primary reasons you are here”.

The polytechnic, Wadike said, “does not tolerate any form of indecency from students, social vices like examination malpractice, theft, cultism and other violences in any form, which attract outright expulsion.

“The Polytechnic is a place where you enjoy a lot of freedoms, but that freedom often comes with some corresponding obligations as your freedom ends where another person’s freedom begins.

“So, not only must you protect your rights, privileges and freedom, you must also ensure that you do not trample on the rights, privileges and freedom of Others.

“I, therefore, recommend that you emulate the examples of your mentors and lectures in self discipline, self care, good mode of dressing, fedelity to studies and work and general comportment so that you will not be found wanting.”

He continued that “Kenpoly is positioned to be a trailblazer in good governance, accountability and transparency within the firmament of Nigeria’s educational system.

“We have no doubt that this polytechnic is strongly positioned to solve some of the nations problems of unemployment by graduating not only self-employable youths, but also youths that are themselves employers of labour.”

He announced to the matriculants and parents that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has introduced a new intervention line with the Career Development Centers.

Wadike said the new intervention is purposely for the initiation, taking-up and continuous maintenance of Student Career Guidance.

By: Chinedu Wosu

Rivers

Group Seeks Traditional Medicine Hospital Establishment In Rivers

Published

15 hours ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

A group under the aegis of the Modern Traditional Medicine Practitioners of Nigeria (MTMPN), Rivers State Branch, has called on the state government to build a designated traditional medicine hospital in the state.

They said this will enable the state government actualise full realisation of its healthcare service delivery programmes and maximize the potentials of its members in the state’s health sector.

The State Chairman of the MTMPN, Eze Stanley Munoye Ogbu, made the call after the group’s general meeting in Port Harcourt, weekend, noting that the modern traditional medicine practitioners in the state are ready to partner with the government to contribute their own quota towards the development of the health sector.

Eze Ogbu, who is a member of the Rivers state government approved Board of Traditional Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM), urged members to choose area of specialisations and not be jack of all trade, while also exhibiting a high sense of professionalism in their practice, and conducting their operations in a clean environment.

The Onye Ishi Agwuru of Okehi Kingdom in Etche Local Government Area of the state hinted that a committee has been set up by the TCAM Board to clamp down on unlicensed practitioners and use the opportunity to call on the state government to invest in traditional medicine to boost revenue and create jobs.

Also speaking, the Chairman of MTMPN, Obio/Akpor LGA Chapter, Dr. Dede Temple Owhadah, said the association is training members on modern practices in order to improve their efficiency in the treatment of patients across the state.

He called on herbal and traditional medicine practitioners in the state to get trained and be educated in their areas of specialisation to remain relevance in the practice

Owhadah warned that the taskforce will go after unlicensed practitioners after the training period and urged governments at all levels to work with the registered professionals in their domain to flush out unqualified practitioners and to tap into the profession’s human resources to improve the healthcare delivery system in the state.

He stressed that members of the group are celebrated researchers who have manufactured certified drugs as cures for various diseases and ailments.

“What we are doing is that we are training and educating our members to improve on their proficiency and modern practices they desire to operate with. After this, we are going to come after those unqualified practitioners and clampdown on them across the entire state.

“Whether you are selling herbal medicine in the street, bone setters, or using any form of herbs and alternative medicine to treat people, we are going to shut such areas down without any recognised government approval at the end of the training session”, he stated

On her own. Dr. Gorgeous Chinyere Adichie commended the group for the education and training of their members to update them with the needed professional experience in the practice.

By: Akujobi Amadi