Rivers

‘Kalabari May Not Really Develop Until …’

Published

11 months ago

April 10, 2024

The Amanyanabo and Paramount Ruler of Abonnema, in Kalabari land, King Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel, says Kalabari may not get the desired development until her constituent communities come together as one.
“In addition to coming together as a people, we must find answers to existing challenges as well as decide on our priorities before we can make any headway in the current struggle for ethno-political dominance in Nigeria”, he said.
He noted that the pockets of efforts for social, political and economic advancement of the Kalabari people are not likely to yield much in the face of widespread mutual suspicion and absence of unity of purpose within the various peoples and communities of the Kalabari Kingdom.
The revered monarch, who received a delegation of the Kalabari Media Forum (KMF) in his palace at Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, recently, said Kalabari can no longer sit back and expect the best things in life to happen to her.
King Bob-Manuel said there was so much that even the Kalabari elite could achieve when they forge a common front and are motivated by the overriding interest of the collective rather than the pursuit for untested private goals.
The natural ruler of Abonnema, who is currently the only first class traditional ruler in Kalabari land, commended the Kalabari Media Forum for its patriotic zeal and fervour and urged the group to be tenacious in pursuing the laudable agenda of conscientising the Kalabari people for greatness again.
While granting royal blessing for the Kalabari Media Forum, the Amanyanabo expressed excitement over the apparent passion of the group to change the trajectory of events in the kingdom, adding that he would not only work closely with the group, but give the needed assistance and support to enable it succeed.
Earlier, the Coordinator of KMF, Alabo Dagogo Clinton, told the king that the formation of the group was made imperative by the diminishing visibility, clout and influence of Kalabari in the socio-political and economic drawing board of Rivers State, in particular, and Nigeria in general.
He said following their experiences in the public space, Kalabari was hardly visible in the socio-economic equation of Rivers State after her relevance was celebrated nationally only a few decades ago.
According to Alabo Clinton, his group was literally compelled to initiate a cause of action for Kalabari to regain her position of significance and relevance in the polity not only for her good, but for the good of the State and Nigeria also that yearns for the quality contribution of the unique abilities of the Kalabari people.
He said the group was currently consulting the major leadership houses of Kalabari with a view to obtaining the blessing and support of the traditional institution for the planned campaign to awaken the people for the next level in the pursuit and actualisation of the Kalabari Project.
“Your Majesty Sir, we have noticed with concern the hunger in the average Kalabari for our people to come back to reckoning, not only in Rivers State, but in Nigeria, where our forefathers had placed us”, he said, and implored the King to make available his proven leadership capacity to once again help in reinventing the Kalabari Kingdom.
Alabo Clinton entreated the royal father to escalate the concerns and propositions of the group to the topmost level of Kalabari traditional leadership with a view to galvanizing them to action, irrespective of existing primordial biases.
“His Majesty Sir, as a group, we have put together ideas that can take the Kalabari nation to the next level, but only a committed Pan-Kalabari group can drive the process and bring home the dividends”, he explained, and urged the king to help facilitate the birthing of the group with the mandate to champion the Kalabari cause, as soon as possible.

Opaka Dokubo

Rivers

Fubara Approves Building Admin Block, Hostels, Others For IAUE

Published

2 days ago

March 5, 2025

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the construction of key infrastructural projects in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE).

The Governor, who gave the approval midweek during his maiden visit to the institution, was responding to requests made by the Chairman of the Governing Council and Pro-Chancellor of the university, Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka, said his administration will do everything possible to improve the current state of the University.

Addressing the crowd, comprising virtually the entire university community and its host community, after a tour of the Main Campus, the Governor explained that he had come based on the request made by the Governing Council Chairman to provide additional facilities in the school.

Earlier, the Governing Council boss, Amiesimaka, had stressed the need for the Rivers State Government to intervene urgently in critical areas of the institution.

He noted that the achievements and progress recorded by the institution in terms of infrastructural development were mainly those provided by TETFund, though the University is under the control of the Rivers State Government.

He, however, lauded the University’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, “for managing the institution very well despite the lack of government presence”.

In his response, the Governor automatically granted the request made for the building of new hostels for both male and female students, a new administrative block, a health center, and a sports complex.

Addressing students of the university, Fubara appealed to them to “use the rare opportunity provided for them to attain sound education”.

He also urged them to ensure that they remain focused and achieve the purpose for which they are in the university.

Sogbeba Dokubo

Rivers

Group Predicts Garden City Status Return For Rivers … Lauds Fubara Over New RIWAMA Boss’ Appointment

Published

2 days ago

March 5, 2025

The Tide

An environmental health advocacy group in Nigeria, the Community Health and Advocacy Initiative (CHAIN), has said Rivers State will soon return to its Garden City status.

The South-South Project Coordinator of CHAIN, Engr. Sunny Andy Dimkpa, who stated this recently on the sidelines of a two-day workshop themed “Eat, Clean and Live” in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, said this is due to the leadership style and focus of the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

“Under the leadership of an astute administrator like Governor Fubara, who possesses extensive field knowledge in community health and the Rivers State environment, meaningful progress can be achieved”, he said.

Dimkpa used the fora to commend the State Governor for responding to the concerns of environmental stakeholders by strengthening waste management operations in the state, particularly with the appointment of Hon. Orukwem Amadi-Opareli as the Managing Director of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA).

He further praised the Governor for identifying young talents to drive key sectors of his economic reforms, noting that Amadi-Opareli’s leadership at RIWAMA signals the beginning of a transformative era for sanitation in Rivers State.

Describing Amadi-Opareli’s appointment as a clear testament to the Governor’s commitment to ridding Port Harcourt and its environs of filth, the CHAIN boss expressed optimism about the possibility of restoring Port Harcourt to its former Garden City status.

Towards this end, Dimkpa urged the new RIWAMA helmsman to “align the agency’s core mandate with Governor Fubara’s Sectoral Focus on Environment and Sanitation, while taking deliberate steps to engage communities and retraining of sanitation enforcement agents as a means of facilitating the efficient implementation of waste management policies”.

He also advocated for an improved sanitary culture among Rivers State residents, calling for the revival of the state’s monthly sanitation exercise.

Soibi Max-Alalibo

Rivers

Farmers Urge Govt, Corporate Bodies For Support … Wants More Youths In Farming

Published

2 days ago

March 5, 2025

The Tide

The Association of Farmers and Food Processors in Rivers State has called on government and corporate bodies to do more to support practicing farmers in the state in order to successfully tackle the issue of food scarcity and continuous increase in price.

President of the association, Chisom Dike, who made the call while speaking with our correspondent in Port Harcourt, said the aim is to make food available for Rivers people.

He said the agricultural sector comprises more of the elderly, adding that there is a need for young people to venture into farm business as it help to increase food production and processing across the State.

“We don’t have enough farmers in Rivers State. Also, there are more of elderly people farming in the agric industry. It is a challenge because we are not producing enough food.

“We need more young people, whether male or female, to invest in farming as it is equally a lucrative business”, he said.

The Association of Farmers further called on the government and relevant bodies to see how the effects of flooding can be managed, knowing that great losses have been recorded over the years due to flooding.

“Most times when these flooding occur we lose a lot of top soil which is a major ingredient for planting. We also lose our livestock and also our animals are exposed to infection due to the floods”, he stated.

Dike also commended the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for his interest in the agricultural industry, and for the commissioning of a Board of Directors to oversee the intended projects.

“We will like to appeal to the Ministry of Agriculture and other corporate bodies to be involved in promoting farming and food processing.

“The basic need of everybody is food, and if we can produce these foods, it will help in reducing crime”, he stated.

According to him, the level of criminal activities will be reduced if the price of commodities decreases across the State.

He also called on the State Government to pally with farmers of the state in order to know what their problems are, adding that Local Government Areas need to be equipped to be able to support farmers as most farming are done at the rural levels.

Iragunima Benice