Rivers
Choba Drivers Petition Rivers CP Over Crisis
Commercial drivers in Choba, Rivers State, under the aegis of Urban Drivers Welfare Association (UDWA), have raised an alarm over what they described as looming crisis in the area.
They said it is orchestrated by some group of persons who have vowed to cause trouble in the union.
The drivers are, therefore, calling on the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Effiong Okon, and other security agencies in the state to wade into the matter to prevent it from snowballing.
The Chairman, Choba UDWA, Comrade Bestmam Chile, made this call while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, weekend.
Chile stated that the essence of the call was to draw the attention of the state Commissioner of Police, other relevant security agencies and stakeholders in the transport sector to call to order one Abel William, who is the Chairman, Rumuokwuta-Choba Taxi Drivers Association.
According to him, the said William is the one allegedly formenting problem in the area”, adding that Choba, as a student community, “does not need any form of crisis that would affect the students’ welfare in the area”.
He explained that rather than concentrate on his office as Chairman of Taxi drivers plying Rumuokwuta to Choba, Mr Williams has imposed himself as Chairman of bus drivers in the same area, when there are existing elected union officers for the bus drivers.
According to him, Williams went further to register new buses to operate in their route without there authorisation and consultations, adding that the self-acclaimed Chairman has never driven bus or operated as a driver in Choba, Mile 3 route.
“We operate as bus drivers that ply Choba to Mile 3, and we belong to Choba Urban Drivers welfare Association, and we have our union registered under Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
“We have been working with the taxi drivers who run from Rumuokwuta to Choba without any problem, but recently, one Mr. Abel Williams now left his jurisdiction, impersonating himself as bus driver as well.
“He registered mini bus drivers and asked them to operate in our own route without our approval. what we are saying is that he should concentrate on the taxi and allow us manage our bus, whether mini or big bus, bus is bus”, he stated.
Bestman further said Choba drivers are organised, as they regulate activities of members against theft and ensure that when passengers forget their luggages and personal effects inside vehicles belonging to members, they ensure that they are recovered and such items given back to owners.
According to him, the security consciousness applied by the union has earned their members thrust in the area, especially the students’ leadership, adding that any arrangement to register people the union have not profiled will not be accepted.
The Chairman warned that the union would resist any further interference and ensure that only buses registered and documented by the union’s leadership are allowed to operate in the Choba- Mile 3 route, saying that the union does not want any confrontation that will affect the existing peace currently enjoyed in the area.
“Althogh we have petitioned him to the Police, we are still seeing new buses still operating on our route. Several times they attack our task force team, but we held our peace, yet these people are provoking us and we would no longer keep quite.
“This press interview is to draw the attention of the security agencies and the entire public to hold Mr. Abel Williams responsibles for any possible breakdown of law and order in the area”, he warned.
When contacted on phone, Mr Williams said members of the Choba Drivers Welfare Association do not have the monopoly of roads in the state, and as such can not determined who should ply the Choba route as they are different unions.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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.