Rivers
LG Boss Vows To Replicate ‘Wike’s Performance’
Chairman of Bonny Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Anengi Barasua Wilcox, says her administration would continue to replicate what she called the ‘excellent performance’ of the Governor Nyesom Wike administration.
She said Rivers people owe a lot to the Governor for his purposeful leadership “which has brought the State to national limelight and prominence”.
Wilcox, who made the remarks in an interview with newsmen, said her administration would continue to replicate the excellent performance of Governor Wike in all ramifications.
While thanking Governor Wike for allowing somebody from the Rivers South- East Senatorial District to succeed him at the expiration of the tenure of his administration on May 29, 2023, the Council Chairman said “it was a strong indication that the Governor is a true apostle of power shift, particularly within the context of equity, justice and fairness”.
She expressed optimism that the Governor-Elect, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, when sworn into office would continue with the good works of the Governor Wike administration.
Wilcox further indicated that it did not come to her as a surprise that Governor Wike delivered all the candidates of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State during the just-concluded general elections owing to the good works of his administration, and promised to continue to replicate all the “bold and worthy initiatives of the Governor” in her local government council.
She said the successful election of Sir Siminialayi Fubara as Governor-Elect; Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo as Senator- Elect; and other PDP candidates were victories for democracy.
According to her, Sir Fubara in particular “has been tested, trusted and found worthy to continue from where Governor Wike would stop come May 29, 2023”.
She also noted that the emergence of Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo as a second female Senator in the State on completion of her term as Deputy Governor is a clear indication that Governor Wike means well for the women of the State and also that he truly loves them.
The council chairman, therefore, enjoined the people of the State to continue to identify and support the Wike administration to achieve set goals in order to successfully hand over the baton to hiss successor come May 29, and thanked the Governor for all that he has done for the State.
She explained that it was because of the good works of Governor Wike that made the people of Bonny Local Government Area not to hesitate in complying with the directive to deliver all the preferred candidates of the governor at the polls, stressing that all the elected PDP candidates have the capacity to put smiles on the faces of the people of the State.
Wilcox described the electorate who turned out in their numbers to vote candidates of their choice during the elections as the true heroes of democracy, and commended them for their comportment “which generally made the elections hitch-free and peaceful in the area”.
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.