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Senator Tasks Journalists On Re-Evaluation Of Profession

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The former Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, has tasked journalists on the need to re-evaluate the journalism profession in order to prevent it from going into extinction.
Abe gave the charge when he led his ‘Project SMA 2023’ team on a condolence visit to the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, over the death of some of its members, at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
He said that the journalism profession was too important to the society for it to go into extinction.
According to him, the call became imperative due to the close challenge from the social media operators.
The Senator, who is a former Commissioner for Information and governorship hopeful in the state, maintained that journalism is a noble profession that must be protected jealously.
“You must do everything within your reach to protect the profession. You must show skill. Journalism is a noble profession and must not go like that”, he said.
Senator Abe also called on media heads to be discreet with their jobs so as to avoid some avoidable errors, appealing to the media to go back to the drawing board and do the needful.
He recalled that in the past, journalists were so careful that one would hardly find errors in print publications, and when such errors occurred, papers would apologise to their readers promptly while correcting the error.
He regretted that newspaper publications were now ridden with so many mistakes that you would hardly find interesting to read.
The Senator condoled with the NUJ, Rivers State Council, over the death of four of their colleagues in recent times, and prayed to God to give the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear the losses.
Abe assisted the families of the deceased who were also present during the visit with some amount of money.
About his ‘SMA Project’, he said it would operate an all inclusive government that will drive away all known challenges, if elected.
He said that it was time to listen to voters’ plight, adding that the 2023 general elections should not be business as usual.
Earlier, the Chairman of NUJ, Rivers State Council, Comrade Stanley Job Stanley, had commended Senator Abe for always identifying with the Press, describing him as one of the best Commissioners for Information Rivers State has ever produced.
According to him, Senator Abe distinguished himself as a friend of the media when he was Information Commissioner and has continued to identify with journalists even after leaving office.
Job also thanked the visitor for his solidarity, saying his visit does not only boost the morale of journalists in the state, but also gives succour to the families of the deceased.

By: King Onunwor & Tonye Nria-Dappa

 

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Rivers

Police Investigate Officer’s Suicide In PH

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The Police Command in Rivers State has confirmed the commencement of an investigation into the death of a police officer who allegedly took his own life in Port Harcourt.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
“We received a report about an officer who allegedly killed himself.
“However, we are currently investigating the report to ascertain what transpired”, she stated.
Iringe-Koko reported that the Commissioner of Police in the Sstate, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for a thorough investigation.
According to viral reports Monday, Insp. Maxwell Zabu, formerly a security detail to Victor Ihunwo, a former Chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, allegedly shot himself at Ihunwo’s residence in Eagle Island, Port Harcourt.
A source familiar with the incident said the matter was reported to the Azikiwe Police Division in the area.
“Following the report, detectives from the division visited the scene as part of preliminary investigation procedures”, the source added.

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Rivers

Perm Sec Tasks NUJ Leadership On Unity

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The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Rivers State, Mr. Emmanuel Ndah, has charged the leadership of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to ensure that all factions of the union are collapsed, especially now that the election is over.
Ndah gave the charge when the newly elected executives of the council and some of its members led by the Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the State Secretariat Complex, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The Permanent Secretary said he will do everything within his reach to ensure that the union is put in the front burner as far as their demands are achievable within the directives of the Sole Administrator of the State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd).
He also promised to ensure that the demands of the union get to the appropriate quarters.
According to him, the effort of the State Sole Administrator is to carry out programmes that can be achieved in six months and urged the NUJ to make demands that can be achieved within the period.
“The (Sole) Administrator has put so much effort to not only carry out achievable programmes, but also ensure peace and security in the State”, he said.
He, therefore,instructed the new executives to carry every member of the union along in the scheme of things.
“After the election, the union is now one. Carry everybody along so that the union will move forward”, he said.
The Chairman of NUJ, Bazia, had earlier assured the Permanent Secretary that the new executive was ready to work with the government to change the negative narratives and move the State forward.
Bazia further emphasised that the union will ensure factual reportage that will bring about the development of the State.
He also said the essence of the visit was to introduce the new executives to their host and lamented the deplorable condition of the NUJ Secretariat and urged the Permanent Secretary to help push the demands of the union to the state government, while highlighting some of the challenges faced in the Council.
“In terms of mobility, we have no vehicle, the one we have is in a bad shape. Most of the facilities are bad, so we need you to help push our issues to the Administrator pending when our Governor will be restored”, he said.
He thanked the Permanent Secretary for receiving members of the union within a short notice.

King Onunwor

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Rivers Judiciary Denies Reports On SOLAD’s Sack

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The Rivers State Judiciary has denied claims of media reports online that a judge of its High Court issued a ruling in favour of Governor Siminalayi Fubara against former Governor Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu allegedly sacking the Sole Administrator of the State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).
A statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, described the purported report as false and misleading, particularly for linking a judge of the State High Court, Justice Boma Diepiri, to a ruling that reportedly came from a Federal High Court.
According to the statement, Justice Diepiri is a Judge of the Rivers State High Court and not of the Federal High Court and currently on Easter vacation, which commenced on Monday, 14th April.
The Chief Registrar further clarified that the Federal High Court and the State High Court are separate entities, stressing that “the inclusion of Justice Diepiri’s name in the fabricated report underscores the crass ignorance of the author”.
The statement, signed by Ihua-Maduenyi, reads in part, “The attention of the Rivers State Judiciary has been drawn to a fake news report alleging that His Lordship, Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri, delivered a judgment sacking the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. This is false in its entirety.
“Justice Diepiri is a judge of the High Court of Rivers State, not of the Federal High Court as was falsely reported.
“Additionally, His Lordship is currently on Easter vacation which began on Monday, April 14, 2025”.
It advised the general public and members of the media to always cross checked information concerning the judiciary before publishing, and disregard the said report in its entirety, saying “its an embodiment of falsehood and fabricated story”.

Akujobi Amadi

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