Rivers
MOSIEND Supports Restructuring, Threatens Shutdown Of Firms
The Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has threatened to resume hostilities in Niger Delta, if Federal Government fails to give considerable attention to issue of restructuring in Nigeria.
MOSIEND also threatened to shut down Dangote Firms if Niger Delta was not included in its proposal to build refineries in Nigeria
The president of MOSIEND, Eastern zone, Comrade Kennedy Tonjo West said the decision was part of the group’s communique reached at the maiden congress held recently in Port Harcourt.
West said the people of Niger Delta, particularly the Ijaws were vulnerable to the concocted Nigeria’s constitution which was put together by some few military junta in the country,
He said the constitution was intentionally planned to exploit the resources from Niger Delta in order to impoverish the region as way of reducing the economic power of the people after the civil war.
According to him, Nigerian Government is not only using the means of Nigeria constitution on Niger Delta, but also militarising the region particularly the Ijaw territories in the region.
The MOSIEND leader expressed the readiness of the group to shut down all oil facilities, if federal government delay to yield to the yearnings of the people, especially on restructuring and resource control.
He said the time had passed when governments and multinational companies neglected and subdued the region to abject poverty, despite the huge resources contributed to the treasury of the nation.
He said: “Our focus is to ensuring poverty is reduced to the bearest minimum, especially amongst the Ijaws in the area.
“Our concern is to make sure Ijaws in all the States of Nigeria have its rightful positions amongst the comity of other ethnic groups in the country.
“We will work to have positive impact on the lives of people of Ijaw and to ensure that our interest is protected across the boards”
Speaking, the chairman of the Ijaw Elders Forum, Comrade Kezier T. Ogoriba who described the new MOSIEND president as fearless leader said he was ready to make sacrifice for the development of the Ijaw landed and charged the people of Ijaw to remain committed and focused and not to allow politicians to mislead the struggle of Ijaw forefathers.
Ogoriba promised the support of the elders in any good steps taken to liberate and develop the Ijaw nation in the country.
Also speaking, the chairman of the newly inaugurated chapter of Bundu MOSIEND, Comrade Mathew Mathew said companies that refused to abide by the Ijaw requests, must be closed.
We are going to close down all companies in Ijaw area that refused to follow the request of the Ijaws, we cannot continue to remain in abject poverty, while our land is decaying because of the resources taken away from the land,” he said.
“Our occupation is fishing, and now oil exploration has driven away all aquatic lives from the creeks, yet governments and companies are denying us our right. Enough is enough.” He said.
By: Enoch Epelle
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.