Rivers
Fubara Commends Christians Over Prayers
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has commended the Christian Community in the State for its continous prayers for the administration.
He gave the commendation at the Thanksgiving Service of the 3rd sessions of 5th Synod of the Diocese of Evo, Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion) at Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls School, Elelenwo.
The Governor, who was represented by the State Head of Service, Sir George Nwaeke, particularly thanked the Evo Diocese for its prayers for the administration.
Meanwhile, the Bishop, Diocese of Evo, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu, has called on the political class in Rivers State to put the interest of the state above personal and parochial interest.
Ordu, who said this in his Presidential Charge at the just-concluded Synod of the Diocese, urged them to remember the brotherly love that binds the state together.
“We, therefore, remind our brothers and sisters in the political arena of the state that as a family they may have differing interest, but the foundations that have held us together and on which we have prospered and grown to such enviable heights as we have today should not be forgotten”, he said.
He said the common identity and cords that binds the people of Rivers State together must be respected irrespective of political affiliations
Ordu also called on all religious and traditional leaders in the state to shun partisanship and embrace every person, irrespective of their individual leanings .
In his words, “The church does not exist to champion political interest. Same applies to the traditional institution”.
He also urged religious leaders to persevere in their prayers for the peace, stability, rapid development and general well-being of the state.
Bishop Ordu used the occasion to call for massive investment in education.
He expressed regret that inspite of the enormous resources in Nigeria, the country has continued to lag behind in education.
Ordu also described as alarming the rate of school dropouts in Nigeria, and the continuous low budgetary allocations to the educational sector.
He also stressed the need for voluntary organisations such as churches and individuals to complement government effort by investing massively in education.
“Churches should establish schools across the Nation where they are lacking as part of their support to government and people.
“Church schools must be schools of prestige in terms of standard infrastructure”, he stated, adding that such schools “must also be accessible to both the rich and the poor”.
In her sermon, former Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, charged families to bring their children up in the fear of God.
She also called on the church to inculcate moral values in their members.
The Theme for the Synod was “Education For National Development And Transformation: The Role of The Family, Church And State”.
John Bibor
Rivers
Rivers High Court Restrain Trustees, Knights of St. John International, Others From Conducting Election
The High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has restrained the registered trustees of Knights of St John International, Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Nigeria, and four others from conducting elections into Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920 CIWA, Port Harcourt, District 48 Commandery elections, and Supreme Subordinate elections of the Knights of St John International, Nigeria, pending the determination of the substantive matters before them.
Justice G.C. Aguma and Justice V.C. Ugoji, in their separate interim orders of injunction issued in Suit No: PHC/4410/CS/2025 and Suit No: PHC/4359/CS/2025, respectively, restrained the defendants, whether by themselves, their privies, agents, servants, or any person or group of persons working under them, from conducting elections into Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920, CIWA Port Harcourt, District 48 Commandery, Port Harcourt Commandery, and Supreme Subordinate of Knights of St John International, Nigeria.
The claimants, Sir Njoku Chukwuemeka Andrew and Sir Chukwuemeka Martin Mba, in separate suits, through their legal representatives, dragged the defendants to court, seeking an order to restrain them from appointing or installing any interim caretaker executive or leadership to run or pilot the affairs of St John International, Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920, CIWA, Port Harcourt.
The defendants in the matter are: Registered Trustees of Knights of St John International, Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Nigeria; Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Ufuoma Okene, the Grand President, Port Harcourt Grand Commandery, Knights of St John International; Noble Brother Viktor Benebo, the Chairman Investigation Committee set up by the 2nd Defendant to investigate the claimants; Sir Architect Prempeh Ebiware, the District 48 Commander, Knights of St John International, Port Harcourt; and Sir Harry Oruma, member of Knights of St John International, Our Lady of Holy Commandery No 920, CIWA, Port Harcourt.
The two judges, after listening to the counsels in the matter, granted the claimants’ request and adjourned the matter to 10/12/2025 and 16/12/2025, respectively, for hearing of the motion on notice.
