Rivers
Cleric Cautions Christian Faithful Against Evil Cultures
The Bishop of the Etche Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt Reverend Okechukwu Precious Nwala, has called on Christian faithful to stand up against evil cultures in the society. The cleric gave the charge on Wednesday, at a launch/dedication of a book titled: “The Story of” Itu Anya Culture” in Mba Asaa, ”written by Archdeacon Jonathan Chimezie, at the Cathedral Church of St Matthias, Okomoko/Egwi/Umuanyagu, in Anglican Diocese of Etche.
Pointing out the inherent nefarious attributes of the culture as highlighted by the book, Okechukwu warned against christians secretly identifying with cultures like the “Itu Anya Culture”, stating that any christian found secretly doing that is not worthy of being called a christian. He noted that “any culture that can not move with time and can not openly compete favourably with other cultures is not a good culture and should be discarded.”
He gave instances of the devilish practices inherent in the culture under review where a new initiate at Isu Etche died in the process of toture during the initiation and was buried in the bush in the presence of his father, and another case in Egbu Etche where a pastor would have been attacked for holding a crusade during the period of the Itu Anya initiation. The bishop praised the author and encouraged him to continue to fight a good fight of faith as God will always protect and bless him.
The author of the book, Archdeacon Jonathan Chimezie, in his vote of thanks thanked God for his protection in all the years he had been persecuted for speaking against the satanic culture. In a chat with our correspondent, Chimezie narrated his ordeal in the hands of perpetrators of the heinous culture called Itu Anya, a reason for which the documentary became imperative.
The author explained that he was propelled to put down this piece of information basically because of the activities of the initiates of the Itu Anya culture around him. Although his late father’s instruction for all his children not to be initiated into the cult had already distinguished them from the crowd,the attendant persecutions in which the old initiates succeeded in lurring his daughter to initiate her son, a native of Orodo in Imo State as well as the pinning of a shrine dedicated to Ogba deity in his father’s compound against his wish, the numerous dangers especially blood-letting in the community and his obligation as a child of God, made the book a reality.He said that gathering of the information, arranging them in the form of writing, the energy, time and finance as well as dealing with doubts of success were challenges he had to contend with.
However, he considers the book, a milestone in the fight against dangerous and obnoxious cultures, which have come to create awareness of the satanic activities going on in the guise of culture on a wider spectrum.
Meanwhile a personality in attendance, who happened to have encountered the attack of the Itu anya culture initiates, Mr Francis Rollingstone, while commending the effort and courage of the author, expressed happiness for such a wonderful write up. Narrating the ordeal his family in Omademe, a community in Ikwerre LGA had to go through for their refusal to participate in the culture, Mr Francis stated that his late father, Mr Apollos Francis, had a historic battle of his life in 1972 for not yeilding to the pressure of the community but stood his ground. He pointed out that the family had recurring attacks in 1992 and 2001 respectively. He gave glory to God for the publication of the book and prayed that God will use it as an avenue to liberate the communities involved from the bondage of the devil.
Also, the chairman of the occasion, Egnr. Ugochukwu Chukwuezi in his opening remarks praised the author for his courage in the face of intimidation and persecution and enjoined the audience to take a que from the author. He also admonished christians to be examplary and stand firm in their faith so as to make better impact in their communities.The book was reviewed by Venerable Dr Okey G Orji, while Engineer Ogbonnaya Njoku was the chief launcher. Other dignitries in attendance include Prof Samuel Amaele; a lecturer with the Ignatius Ajuru University, Mr Rollingstone Francis and Pastor Godfrey Iwuala.
Recall that Itu anya culture, popularly known as Ogba, is practised by three communities in Ikwerre; Omademe, Ozuaha and Ipo, six communities in Etche; Elele, Isu, Ogida, Owu, Egbu, and Ihie and Etioha in Ohaji, IMO State.
By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi
The Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, says the state judiciary has a total of 23,870 cases pending in various courts in the State.
This figure includes all cases pending in Magistrate, High, and Customary Courts, as well as Customary Court of Appeal in the State.
Justice Amadi stated this while presiding over a special court session held to mark the comencement of the 2024/2025 new legal year held at the auditorium of the High Court in Port Harcourt, Thursday.
The State Chief Judge, while giving the breakdown of performances by the Judiciary in the last year ended, revealed that the stastics of the cases brought before the courts from October 30, 2023 to 30th September 2024 is 31,886, while cases filed stood at 14,791 and cases disposed in the period under review is 22,725.
He further disclosed that the State Judiciary and the customary courts generated a total of #525,322,478,83 as revenue in the last judiciary year under review.
He described the special court session as an annual ritual of the judiciary marked to herald the beginning of a new legal year, stressing that it affords the judiciary and all stakeholders the needed opportunity to take stock of the activities of the judiciary in the past one year in order to improve, with a view to strengthening the justice administration.
The number one state judiciary officer stated that the judiciary had undertaken a lot of capital infrastructure in the year ended to ensure the comfortablility of the workers and judicial officers, and announced that additional high courts would be constructed at Okehi and Degema to ease the challenges of numerous cases coming from such jurisdictions.
Justice Amadi further disclosed that the state judiciary has a total of 51 judges, 57 magistrates, 30 Chairmen of customary courts, and 60 presiding members, adding that the state judiciary has 12 judicial Divisions, 37 magisterial Districts, and 30 customary courts.
“We lost seven judiciary staff, Port Harcourt NBA lost 16, Okehi branch 1, Bori branch 2, and Ahoada branch 2 . Creation of a judicial Division is based on cases filed from such area and we recommend for approval of such and not for politically based”, he stated.
The State Chief Judge used the opportunity to thank the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for the support given to the judiciary in the state, noting that the success recorded by the judiciary in the state was attributed to the huge support from the State Governor.
He also appreciated the efforts of the security agencies and the media for their various cooperation and support and urged them to sustain such in this legal year .
In their various speeches at the event, the State Attorney General and Commissoner of Justice, Dagogo Isreal-Ibroma, SAN; the Leader of the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Rivers State, OCJ Okocha, SAN; and the Chairman of NBA, Port Harcourt Branch, Mrs. Eke Cordelia, commended the achievements recorded by the state judiciary and urged that more measures be put in place to enhance speedy dispensation of justice.
The special court session was preceded by a church service.
By: Akujobi Amadi
A religious body in Rivers State, the House of Jesus Christ Ministries, has appealed to the warring politicians in the State to stop the orgy of violence over leadership supremacy and embrace genuine dialogue.
This is contained in a recent statement by the Parish Church Council (PCC) meeting of the church.
The statement, which was signed by the General Overseer, Apostle Joseph Emmanuel; Secretary, Evangelist ThankGod Akpanowoh; Parish Women Leader, Mrs. Promise Aniebet William; and Parish Evangelist, Elder Aniefiok Benneth, noted that the spate of violence witnessed across the state has taken unimaginable dimensions with the recent killings, wanton destruction of properties, and the burning down of Council Secretariats.
It said if care is not taken, the crisis could extend to homes, and therefore called on the warring parties to stop and gove room for a lasting solution.
Blaming the Federal Government under the watch of President Bola Tinubu, who it said had been seemingly passive in handling the political difference between the former Governor of the State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“The kind of crisis we are seeing cannot be rationalised. Whether in Rivers or Lagos, whether we are talking of state violence of political upheavals rocking the state, we plead as a church with the contending politicians to pull back their hatchets of indifference for the sake of peace, unity, stability and progress, and allow the possibility of genuine dialogue to begin, and lasting peace restored”, the church said.
Noting that the xurrent wind of democracy blowing in the state is one of the legacies of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and others who preach peace, love and development in the state, the Church cautioned against further crises “in the once peaceful state for posterity”.
It urged the current politicians in the country to emulate the peaceful disposition and virtues of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which is instrumental to the prevailing peace in the state, in the face of continued provocations.
By: Bethel Toby
Rivers State has topped the performance chart in the implementation of the Nigerian Community Action Resilience And Economic stimulus (NG -CARES) programme in the South-South and Nigeria.
This was contained in a report released at the just-concluded two-day peer learning and experience sharing event in Port Harcourt.
According to the report, Rivers State performed excellently in all aspects of the programme implementation.
The state was followed by Delta State, which emerged second both in the South-South and the country at large.
Meanwhile, the World Bank has approved an additional $500million for the extension of the programme for the next three years.
World Bank Task Team leader, Dr.Lire Ersado, said at the event that the programme has lived up to expectations as it has gone along way to alleviate the sufferings of millions of poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
Ersado, who was represented by Professor Folorusho Okumadewa, said NG CARES has gotten the right strategies and approach in making sure that poor and vulnerable Nigerians can smile.
He said the programme, which was initially setup to address suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, is even more relevant today with a view to addressing the plights of Nigerians affected by flood and other natural disasters.
Ersado said the Port Harcourt meeting, which is the sixth in the series of meetings held across the country, will provide opportunity for all states in the country to cross check their performances with each, as well as learn from the successes and failures of each other.
Also speaking, Rivers State Commissioner for Commerce And Industry, Barrister John Otamiri, said the programme was in line with the State Government programme of alleviating the sufferings of the people.
He also said the government is ready to partner with NG CARES to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable in the society.
Otamiri said also assures that Rivers State is safe for investment.
While reeling out its performances, National Coordinator, NG CARES, Dr. Abdulkarim Obaje, said the world Bank is passionate about the programme , adding that the bank has graciously extended the programme for another three years with an additional $500 million.
He said within the last three years $750 million was disbursed to the 36 states and FCT in 160 delivery platforms.
Obaje added that 9.2 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians also benefited from the programme across the country in the last three years.
Earlier, Rivers State Coordinator, RiV CARES, Mrs. Ephraim George Imaonyani, commended the delegates for choosing Rivers State for the South-South meeting.
By; John Bibor