Rivers
Ekpeye Traditional Rulers Seek Help For Odiemudie Community
Ekpeye Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs has called on the chairmen of Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas as well as other public spirited individuals to come to the aid of the indigenes of Odiemudie community who deserted their homeland because of the activities of cultists.
Odiemudie community in Ahoada East Local Government Area is the hometown of the infamous late Gift Okpara David (2Baba)
Addressing the people during an inspection visit to the community, the Chairman of Ekpeye Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, His Majesty, Eze Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo, Eze Ekpeye Logbo lll, also called on churches and charity organizations to save the people from hunger and hardship.
He sympathised with them for their sordid condition and expressed optimism that help would come their way.
The monarch thanked the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetukun, and the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, for their efforts in neutralizing the killers of Ahoada Divisional Police Officer, SP Bako Angbashim.
“As a way forward on security issue, I and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police delegation had toured round Ekpeye kingdom three days ago, to inspect sites for Special Squard of Nigeria Police Force.
“The tactical teams would be stationed at Ubeta community in Ahoada West and along Ahoada/Odiemerenyi road in Ahoada East.
“My dear people of Odiemudie, I promise, your message would be conveyed to the appropriate quarters”, he said.
Also speaking, His Majesty, Eze Cassidy Ikebhidhi, Eze Igbu Akoh l l, lambasted the people of Odiemudie community over their lackadaisical attitude towards the activities of 2Baba.
He said the despicable deeds of the deceased criminal had plunged the entire community into hardship.
He recalled that he sent several invitations to community over the criminal activities of 2Baba and his gang, adding that 2Baba refused to heed his advice.
“I and Eze Ekpeye Logbo lll were humiliated; we stayed in detention for three months and two weeks”, he said.
Eze Igbu Akoh warned the community against a repeat of such ugly occurrence and advised them to carry out background check on any stranger in their midst.
The former Ahoada East Council boss assured the internally displaced people of Odiemudie community that he would join hands with Eze Ekpeye Logbo lll to bring them back to their community.
Earlier, in an address signed by Community Development Committee chairman, Agbo Festus, the Youth leader, Solomon Wilfred Unya and the Paramount Ruler, Chief Obodo Bob Ozumba, the community lamented that they were suffering in exile.
“We want to go home so we can restart our lives; we pray you to use your good connections to intercede on our behalf by extending our message to the Rivers State Governor, Ama-Opu Senibo Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, GSSRS to intervene”, they said.
Recall that the Police and other sister agencies raided Odiemudie community in recent past following the gruesome murder of the former Ahoada Divisional Police Officer, SP Bako Angbashim.
Our Correspondent who visited the community reports that it is now desolate and has been taken over by rodents, reptiles and weeds.Ekpeye Traditional Rulers Seek Help
Agimo Emenike Benson
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.