Rivers
Group Begins Massive Support Drive For Fubara
A social political group under the aegis of “Etche/Omuma for SIM” has commenced aggressive grassroots membership drive for support of Governor Siminalayi Fubara-led administration in the two local Government Areas of the state .
The membership drive was the outcome of a consultative special congress meeting held by the group in Port Harcourt, recently.
The meeting which attracted political gladiators , serving and retired civil servants as well as Business men and women from all the nineteen wards in Etche local Government Area commended governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Head of Service of the state ,Dr George Nwaeke for their selfless service and positive impact their administration has made the state.
Speaking at the meeting ,the leader of the group, Eld Ikechi Nwogu said the group was formed to support the administration of the state governor and the Head of Service of the state ,Dr George Nwaeke, adding that the various achievements of Sir Fubara administration within the short period of time in office bspeaks volumes of his administration desire to better the lives of every citizens in the state.
Mr Nwogu who is also the Acting Chairman of the State Senior Secondary Schools Board opined that the administration of Governor Fubara has brought hopes to civil servants and engendered a sense belonging in the State.
According to him, today civil servants in the state including teachers , local Government Area workers can stand among their contemporaries in the state, adding that the people are happy with his administration and all the projects been executed.
“We are happy with what his administration is doing, teachers today are permanent secretaries , promotions are regular, pension and gratituity are paid regularly as at when due. The support for him is massive. We in Etche and Omuma, we formed this group to support and for appointing our principal Dr George Nwaeke as the Head of Service of the State. We are greateful to you sir, Your Excellency,” he stated.
Also speaking, the coordinator of the group, Mr Elistus Ali commended members for their massive turnout to the meeting despite the heavy down pour , stressing that it was a strong indication of a collective resolve to support the present administration in the state and described Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a peaceful man and divine mandate for the liberate of the state.
Elistus appealed to members to ensure that they take the message to all the various communities and villages in their wards to preach and sensitize the people on the need to support the present administration in the state and also build structures across the polling units in there areas.
He opined that the commitment and good works of governor Siminalayi Fubara-led administration in the State has made their work very easy as virtually, every household in the local government area is predominantly civil servants.
“Our principal is Dr George Nwaeke, the Head of Service of the State, we are building support across the two LGAs of Etche and Omuma and his principal ,the state chief executive, Governor Fubara and we are appreciative for appointing our son as number one civil servant in the state,” he stated.
He used the opportunity to assure the state governor of the total support of members of the group and the teeming population in the area, adding that the group will work with other Sim support groups in the area for the success of his administration.
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.