Rivers
MOSIEND Urges IYC To Apologize To Sen. Lokpobiri
The leadership of the Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) a Mass Mobilization Organization in the region has urged The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to tender an unreserved apology to The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri for what it described as unwarranted attack on his personality.
MOSIEND who picked offence on the attack on Sen Lokpobiri is asking the IYC to immediately withdraw the statement and beg The Minister his for forgiveness.
The IYC had gone to the media calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reshuffle his cabinet and move Sen Lokpobiri to another office where his incompetence will not be noticed, alleging that the Ministry of Petroleum is too big for him to handle.
The group also blamed Sen Lokpobiri for the current fuel crisis in the nation and the delay in the kickoff of Port Harcourt refinery; accusing him of mismanaging his office and causing untold pains and hardship on the citizenry
The National President, MOSIEND Amb. Dr. Kennedy Tonjo West in a statement made available to Newsmen said Ijaw means truth, but lamented the way and manner people who call themselves Ijaws rushed to the public to publish falsehoods and made derogatory statements against their leaders too often
West, in the statement, asked those behind the publication to take a deep moment to ask themselves if those things they said about Sen Lokpobiri are actually true because it is unbelievable that Ijaw men/women could say such things about their own brother.
He said, ordinarily, MOSIEND wouldn’t have commented on the issue, but that after deep thinking, it saw the need to caution those behind the publication as it doesn’t reflect the true position of things.
West, said for the records, Sen Lokpobiri is not responsible for the delay in the immediate commencement of operations of tje Port Harcourt refinery; noting that these ugly developments responsible for the delay were caused by the past administration which failed to do the right things despite the billions of naira that were approved for the project and would not tell Nigerians the truth about the prolonged delay.
He explained that it is not fair for anybody, especially the Ijaws, to blame it on Sen Lokpobiri for the delay in the commencement of operations because the problems were inherited and despite that, he is putting in efforts to hasten up the process.
According to him, “We actually didn’t want to get involved in what is happening between IYC and Sen Lokpobiri, but we have seen that it is a misplacement of priority and a display of aggression.”
“We saw this hike in fuel prices coming, because of how reckless the former administration handled matters, and we saw how the issue of the Port Harcourt refinery played out. It is not Sen Lokpobiri’s fault.”
We have also resolved as Ijaws not to run down our people in spite of their misgivings against any public office holder, come to talk of it, the person of Sen Heineken Lokpobiri, who as a matter of fact is not even the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources and the overtly displayed antics Mele Kyari in saying the least.
Secondly, the refinery is not directly under the Minister’s purview, but NNPCL, so why would one try to rubbish him, over what is not his making and to what gains”
“It is also regrettable, and shameful that our people could condescend so low to asking for a replacement of somebody who is working round the clock to bring Mr. President’s mandate to fruition in spite of the hopeless situation he inherited.”
“It is also regrettable that of all people, it is his people that are behind the attacks, and not only that, it is coming from a respected institution like the IYC.”
“We are asking that they render an unreserved apology to the Hon Minister.”
We are equally well calling on the Hon Minister to take an appraisal of his disposition towards his people and the Niger Deltans if it is one that deserves commendation or outright disapproval hence warranting such lash out from his kinsmen.
“During the past administration, all Nigerians knew the monies being sunk in the refinery would be wasted because the government didn’t have the will to revive the refinery. So, how can you wake up suddenly to say it is Sen Lokpobiri that’s responsible?”
“How can you use such heavy words, such unprintable words as incompetence, inefficient and ineffectiveness on the Minister – an Ijaw man who has done them no wrong?” Why didn’t they call for the replacement of the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources or better still the Managing Director of NNPCL as well, since they want to proffer solutions.
“They should go and hide their faces and heads in shame for this action,” Today is Sen Heineken Lokpobiri, who is next on the line tomorrow ? No matter the grouse with the Hon Minister, this is one too many, you just don’t malign or denigrate somebody’s reputation for purpose to compelling him to do your bidding or getting at him forgetting that the public is watching. West said. It also behoves on to note that the so called Press Release was signed by just a section of the entire exco. This thus portray them as disgruntled elements in the National Executive Council of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC. THINK. Go the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Proverbs 6:6
According to the MOSIEND President, there’s nobody in Ijaw nation or Niger Delta that’s happy with the publication
Chinedu Wosu
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.