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We Didn’t Ask Ogonis To Leave Woji Community –Monarch …Ogoni Leaders Regret Death Of Youth

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1 year ago

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The Paramount Ruler of Woji Town in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Emeka Ihunwo, has stated that the community did not ask people of Ogoni Ethnic Nationality in the Town to leave in response to the involvement of an Ogoni son in the death of a youth of Woji Town.
Woji Town had been in turmoil for about a week following the death of a youth of the community, Kenneth Eke, last week Thursday when his tenant, an Ogoni man, reported him to the police over a disagreement and the police subsequently beat him to death.
Eze Ihunwo made the clarification on Wednesday when a 15-man delegation of Ogoni leaders, led by the acting Chairman of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers of Ogoni, Mene Suanu Baridam, Gbenemene and Kasimene VII of Bangha Kingdom, paid him a condolence visit at Eze Woji Palace, Woji Town.
He recounted the events that led to the death of the youth in the hands of the police following the report of the tenant, insisting that ordinarily a person that takes a matter to the police did not do a wrong thing, if not for the tragic way the matter had ended.
He stated that Kenneth Eke died after being manhandled by some police officers who were invited by one of his tenants, who happened to be a native of Ogoni, to arrest him (Eke) for evicting him from his house over a rent dispute.
The death of Eke sparked unrest among community youths as they took to the streets and set up road blocks in protest against the incident.
He however announced that the community leadership and law enforcement agencies have brought the situation under control and people are going about their lawful businesses without any form of hindrance.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Woji Community has not asked Ogoni people, or indeed any other ethnic nationality, to leave. We have not done that, and will never do so. We are a peace-loving and hospitable community and will never ask anybody or ethnic group to leave our community. Incidentally, while we mourn the painful and untimely death of our son, the culprits are in police custody. We only ask that the law should take its course. We want to see that justice is done,” the Woji monarch said.
Nyenwe-Eli Woji, on behalf of the people, thanked the Ogoni delegation for their visit and concern over the death of the youth, and assured them of the safety of Ogonis and other residents of the community.
Earlier in his speech, King Baridam said the delegation had come to commiserate with the community on the death of their son and pleaded with Paramount Ruler to ensure peace in the community and that Ogonis and other residents of Woji are safe and secured while investigations on the matter by the appropriate authorities are on.
He said the call had become necessary because of rumours that the community had asked Ogonis to leave the community because of the incident.
Members of the delegation included the Mene-Bua-Sogho, Mene Frank Nule Nam; President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Prince Biira; former Director of Finance and Accounts, NDDC, Chief Derek Mene; Hon. Clifford Bere; Hon. Neka Sam; former spokesman of MOSOP, Hon. Bariala Kpalap; Dr. Samuel Akpekon, and Pastor Lah Zekhue, among others.

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Rivers

Emulate Fubara’s Transformation Agenda, LG Boss Urges S’South Leaders  … Calls For Investment In N’Delta 

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4 days ago

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December 20, 2024

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Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr Enyiada CookeyGam has called on leaders in the South-South states of Nigeria to emulate the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, in evolving policies that would transform and develop their various states, and the Niger Delta region in general.
This, he said, they should, do through industrialization and infrastructure development of their respective states.
Speaking with newsmen recently in Port Harcourt on the performance of the Fubara-led administration and pace of development in the State, CookeyGam also urged Niger Delta sons and daughters to see the need to woo investors to invest in the zone to enhance aggressive infrastructural and human capital development.
He expressed the need for Governors in the zone, stakeholders and leaders at all levels to  pull  their resources together and establish industries in their different areas, which will ultimately manifest in the region.
“Unity of purpose with shared motivation, mutual survival and benefits would offer us the opportunity to pull our resources, talents, and ideas together for the well-being of the people of the States and region”, CookeyGam said.
According to him, within the past one year of his governance, Fubara has instituted many transformational projects and development programmes that has direct bearings on people’s lives.
He said, “on assumption of office in 2023, Fubara was confronted with the challenges of uplifting the living standard of the people of the state, but with the support and collaboration of stakeholders in the state, he was able to ease the financial plight of Rivers people.
“Fubara is ready to woo investors into the state, with varieties of industries that will create employment opportunities for the people of the state, in terms of human capital development, industrialization, entrepreneurship, health, education, agriculture and other sectors.
“Fubara is poised to attract participation of the private sector and divest government interest to private sector, hitch has resulted in the State being rated as the fastest developing economy in Nigeria”.
CookeyGam, who said South-South governments should provide industries and infrastructure to develop the region, lamented that in spite of the federal allocation to states, governments in the region failed to harness the economic opportunities of the zone.
He recalled that visionary leaders such as Fubara, former governors of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili and Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi performed well in developing the state through the provision of infrastructure and the setting up of industries.
“Leadership must create environment that would compliment the efforts of others”, he said, and appealed to Niger Delta people to rally support for their Governors to help them develop the region for posterity.
Bethel Toby
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Rivers

Group Urges Consistency, Diligence In Nigerian Youths

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4 days ago

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December 20, 2024

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The Chief Executive Officer of Young Founders Business Reality TV Series, Mr. Reuben Ebitari T. has advised Nigerian Youths to be consistent and diligent in order to succeed in any business venture.
The CEO who stated this during the launch of the organization in Port Harcourt, described diligence and consistency as necessary for success.
Mr. Ebitari stated that his organisation’s goals were to empower young entrepreneurs, provide training and mentorship to scale their business ideas into sustainable ventures.
He explained that he knew that there were people who genuinely wanted to engage in business but the fund to start was not available, noting that such individuals were the target of his organisation.
He stated that the sponsorship for the project was drawn from their individual contributions as members of the group and expressed hope that government, corporate bodies and individuals would partner with his group to achieve desired goals.
According to him, we are looking forward to expand the project.
He, however, expressed misgivings that his organization would be able to reach those that had little or no education, saying that today’s world was technology-driven.
Also speaking, a prominent and  founding member of the group, Queen Adaeze Chineme, hailed the objectives of the organization.
She said her organization was inspired by its passion for empowering the youths.
She emphasized that there was need to provide capital for Youths who genuinely want to engage in business ventures.
Miss Chineme said primarily the beneficiaries of their capital support would be drawn from those with existing business outfits and noted that youths from 18 to 35 years were eligible.
She also called on government, corporate bodies and individuals to support the venture.
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Rivers

Immunization: Rivers Records Decrease In Women, Infant Mortality  … As OPTS Donates Cold Chain Refrigerators To PHCMB

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5 days ago

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December 20, 2024

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Rivers State has recorded reduction in mortality of infants, children, and women who die during pregnancy and childbirth.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, who disclosed this, Tuesday, during a media briefing, in Port Harcourt, by the Primary Healthcare Management Board (PHCMB), at the donation of World Health Organisation (WHO) Prequalified Cold Chain Refrigerators, said the decrease spans the last three months.
According to her, an analysis of relevant data in the last three months from which report was presented to the State’s Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, who is the Chairman of the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Taskforce, showed an increase in immunisation, which resulted in the decrease in the mortality of infants, children, and women in the State.
“As we were analysing the data in the last three months, and providing report to Her Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, we were pleased and delighted to share with her and onward to the State Executive Council that we have seen an increase in immunisation coverage by virtue of the work the management and staff of the PHCMB have been doing.
“Significant increase in immunisation coverage, reduction in mortality and in newborns, in infants, below the age of one, and children under the age of five”, she said.
Dr. Oreh continued that beyond the stated reductions, there were also “reductions in the number of women who died during pregnancy and childbirth”.
In spite of these, however, the Health Commissioner emphasized the need to sustain efforts being made to ensure that “we get to the point in Rivers State where there are no Zero Dose Children, that there are no more children who don’t have access to vaccines appropriate for their age to save their lives from common childhood illnesses that threaten their survival”.
Making the donation of the WHO Prequalified Cold Chain Refrigerators, the Executive Director, Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), the donor of the refrigerators, Mr. Gwueke Ajaifa, said the donation is in the spirit of giving back to the people.
Noting that OPTS is an association of oil and gas companies in Nigeria, comprising five International Oil Companies (IOCs), and 25 Nigerian Companies, Ajaifa explained the reason for the donation.
“As individual companies, we recognise the need to take care of the people who live in our communities, because without healthy communities, there can be no progress in terms of business.
“Individual companies have been reaching out to the State, but collectively, we also see the need to reach out and ensure that we take care of our people, and Rivers State is one of the States we believe deserves our attention.
“So, this equipment has been donated to support the immunisation programme, in order to maintain the potency of vaccines, because it’s important that we store them properly”, Ajaifa stated.
Explaining the function of the WHO Prequalified Cold Chain Refrigerators, the State Immunization Officer, Dr. Inwom Joseph Urang, said it’s basically to maintain the potency of the vaccines.
“When vaccines are brought, we maintain their potency at a particular temperature, usually +2 to +8 degrees centigrade. So, you don’t allow the temperature to go beyond that.
“Once the temperature goes beyond that, the potency of the vaccines might be compromised. So, we need this equipment to actually help us maintain these vaccines.
“If anything happens to the Cold Chain, we call it ‘breakage of the Cold Chain’. Once the Cold Chain is broken, the potency of the vaccine is gone. Instead of the vaccine being a life-saver, it will now be a killer.
“This is a modern equipment with ten years warranty”, Dr. Urang explained.
Sogbeba Dokubo
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