Rivers
NCSU Hails Release Of Fubara’s Supporters
The Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Rivers State Council, has expressed delight over the release of two ardent supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara by the Inspector General of Police on Saturday.
It would be recalled that the two supporters of the governor, Hon Sokari Goodboy and Mr Ezebunwo Ichemati, were arrested by the police last Thursday in Abuja during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).
Commenting on the development, the Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, said in an interview in Port Harcourt that the arrest of the duo was condemnable in the first place, but commended the Inspector General of Police for acting in a professional manner to ensure that the duo were released promptly, without much ado, since they did not commit any offence to warrant their arrest.
While condemning the arrest, Osumah said the police went beyond their professional briefs, to even carry out the arrest, and carpeted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike and the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Council, Hon Samuel Nwanosike for allegedly orchestrating the arrest of the two PDP stalwarts in faraway Abuja.
According to him, the arrest of Hon Goodboy, who is a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly representing Ahoada West State Constituency; and Mr Ichemati, the media aide of Governor Fubara, was a breach of their fundamental human rights, which he said, is tantamount to stretching political vendetta and witch-hunt to their limits by Wike and his loyalists.
He, therefore, appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call to order the FCT Minister and his loyalists, who he said, are bent on deepening the political crisis in Rivers State, as well as heightening political tensions in the State through their thoughtless and self-serving actions.
The labour leader also used the opportunity to call on the Inspector General of Police to immediately effect the release of other supporters of Governor Fubara who might have become victims of political witch-hunt, following the rift between the Governor and the Minister.
Osumah equally advised Governor Fubara to see the present scenario as an affront from those fighting and opposing him.He, therefore, urged and encouraged the Governor to go ahead to institute a commission of inquiry, to recover all critical structures and assets belonging to the State, which were allegedly converted to personal properties by Chief Wike when he held sway as Governor of the State for eight years.
He said those assets are just there for Rivers people to see and listed them to include the large expanse of land where the Slaughter Market was located along Trans Amadi/Oginigba axis of Port Harcourt, now accommodating Hyper city Supermarket belonging to Wike; the large expanse of reclaimed land between Ogbunabali and Eastern Bypass, which houses another mega supermarket belonging to the former governor; and a section of the land at Ikoku spare parts market which is also housing another Hypercity and a filling station, belonging to Wike; among numerous others.
Said he, “The former Governor must be made to return all critical structures, properties and assets belonging to the State, which were taken over by him and you think people don’t see? Of course, everybody cannot be blind at all times.The Nigeria Civil Service Union and Rivers people are urging and encouraging the Executive Governor of Rivers State to without fear or favour institute a commission of inquiry to recover all these government critical assets including several others. If other Governors that ruled the State had converted government properties and assets to their personal belongings, what would have been left to manage the State?”
He also indicated that there is need for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) to go after the former governor over financial allegations bordering on corruption against him, in the same way as the commission is making frantic efforts to arrest the former Governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello, after declaring him wanted.
“If the EFCC could declare the immediate past Governor of Kogi State wanted, just a few months after he left office, then, it should not turn a blind eye in the case of Rivers State over all the financial allegations against the immediate past governor, who was covered by immunity; and the EFCC operatives were chasing after an ordinary messenger who was carrying out his master’s instructions then. We want to know if they have more explanations to give Rivers people for letting down their guard over the matter? We are waiting to hear”, he said.
Osumah wondered why Wike has decided to be a hindrance and a cog in the wheel to the zeal and determination by Governor Fubara to truly develop the State, contrary to his earlier promise and assurance to labour leaders in the State before the March 18, 2023 governorship election that he was offering the governor as a gift to the Civil Service.
He said in less than one year in office, Governor Fubara has been able to address up to 80 percent of the problems and challenges facing civil servants in the State.
“Thank Almighty God that he gave us our own, who did not hesitate, on assumption of office by conducting promotions across board. It is not only that, he started employment in tertiary institutions and other sectors, while that of the core Civil Service is expected soon. The Governor has also gone ahead to embark on several people-oriented projects which I cannot enumerate all here.But the only sin he has committed against the immediate past governor is that he refused to share the Rivers State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). He refused it to be shared and taken away, instead of expending it on people-oriented projects, which he was elected to give Rivers people.This he is doing rather than allowing the IGR to sink into one greedy man’s purse and pocket, who took and acquired virtually all viable assets belonging to the whole State”, he said.
The labour leader recalled that the Civil Service during the administration of the former governor was comatose for eight years, as overheads were hardly paid; the State Secretariat Complex lacked attention, as it was without power supply and water; civil servants were never promoted; gratuities were never paid retirees; pensions payment was irregular; among other challenges.
According to him, the Fubara administration has painstakingly been attending to the challenges facing civil servants in the State in less than one year in office.
While calling on the workers to continue to reciprocate the good works of the present administration with their maximum and unalloyed support, Osumah expressed optimism that Governor Fubara would continue to put smiles on their faces.
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.