Rivers
NCSU Urges Tinubu To Caution Wike, IGP, Okocha
The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has expressed concern over the silence of President Bola Tinubu in the political crisis currently rocking Rivers State, following the expiration of the tenure of former chairmen and councillors of the 23 local government councils of the State, and called on the President to caution the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief NyesomWike; the Inspector General of Police; and the representative of Rivers State in the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), Mr Tony Okocha on their roles in the lingering crisis.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who made the call while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, said it is shocking that President Tinubu has maintained studied silence over the crisis, and urged him, without further delay to call the trio to order, over their various roles in the political crisis rocking the State.
According to him, the Inspector General of Police, in particular is supposed to play a neutral and mediating role over the matter, instead of allegedly taking sides, saying, he is supposed to have withdrawn by now the police officers who have barricaded the secretariats of local government councils in the State for over one week now.
He noted that Rivers State is not the only State in the country where caretaker committees are appointed to run the affairs of local government councils, and wondered why the case of the State is different.
While affirming that Governor Fubara is totally loyal to the President, Osumah said what is currently playing out in the State is not only negatively affecting the people of the State but also the image and credibility of the Tinubu administration.
According to him, going by the deepening political crisis in Rivers State, people outside the State and Nigeria see President Tinubu as weak and incompetent, since he is unable to call to order those working under his government.
He contended that there is no iota of doubt that Wike and Okocha, who claims to be the leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Rivers State are the ones stoking the flames in the State with their loyalists and supporters.
Osumah indicated that a situation where Wike’s supporters march through the streets holding his portraits, and being nudged on by Okocha, as if they are holding campaign rallies, when there is no election in the air, is taking political desperation too far, and urged President Tinubu to quickly call to order the Minister and his supporters.
He reiterated that it is not only in Rivers State that caretaker committees are in place at the local government councils, and wondered why the police should be allowed to barricade council secretariats in the State, instead of allowing council workers and other residents to have access to the councils to carry out their legitimate businesses unmolested and unhindered.
The labour leader said the continuous barricade of the councils is taking a heavy toll on the economy of the State and the businesses of several persons who depend on the councils for their daily survival.
Osumah also noted that there is absolute peace and tranquility in the State, as the people of the State are going about their businesses unmolested, contrary to insinuations by those who are calling for a state of emergency to be declared in the State, stressing that such calls by people in government also portray the Tinubu administration in bad light.
Osumah equally expressed worry over the recent lamentation of Governor Fubara, concerning the shoddy manner the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) is handling the political crisis in the State, saying, the inability of the party to assert its authority on the issue, by taking firm and appropriate actions against Wike is a strong indication that it is highly compromised.
He enjoined the Nigeria Governors’ Forum(NGF) to rally round Governor Fubara and always give him the necessary support.
Kevin Nengia
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.