EZE EJIKE WALI JOINS THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF IKWERRE TRADITIONAL RULERS TO PASS A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE ON GOVERNOR WIKE

The Supreme Council of Ikwerre government recognized Traditional Rulers, on the 30^th of April, 2016 during their monthly general meeting passed a vote of confidence on the governor of Rivers State His Excellency Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON. 

The meeting which was held at the Palace of HRH Eze Jacob Orji, Nye-Weli Omagwa saw Traditional Rulers from the four LGAs that make up the Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality in attendance as well as Chiefs, Owhor holders and opinion leaders.

Speaking on behalf of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, the Chairman Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers, HRM King Blessing Wagor JP the Nyewali Isiokpo praised the Governor's giant stride to return the state to its glorious state which it has lost over the years. He also assured the Governor that the traditional rulers will complement his effort in ensuring delivery of the dividend of democracy in the States. The traditional rulers through their Chairman commend the effort of the Governor in combating violence and criminality saying that since the coming of the Governor, crime and violence has reduced drastically and urges the Governor to keep up the good work.

Also, His Royal Highness, Eze Ejike Princewill Wali; the Eze Oha Okporo 1 and the Paramount Ruler of Mgbuesilaru Community described the Governor as a God sent to Rivers State, saying he has what it takes to move the state forward. He applauds the governor’s will and zeal to turn the fortune of the state around. He said that the Governor has done so much in such short period of assuming office with so little resources.

The Eze said a vote of confidence was passed on the Governor for his developmental efforts amongst others and say they are proud of him and promised that they will work with him and give him total support in moving the state to the next level.

Eze Ejike ended by requesting other title holders in Ikwerre to work and support the governor.

The traditional rulers meet monthly to discuss ways forward for the Ethnic Nationality and the state. Today during the meeting they resolved to work together with the Governor to develop the state, to complement the effort of the Governor in combating crime in the state.

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Amaechi Gave N110million to Kidnappers - Rivers Paramount Ruler Claims

Gideon Azubuike Wokocha, a paramount ruler in Okposi Community, Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema Local Government Area, (ONELGA) Rivers State, has spoken on the recent spate of insecurity in the state.

Speaking during an interview session with reporters, he accused Minister of transport, Rotimi Amaechi, of giving N110million to kidnappers during his time as Governor.

He said, ''I don’t think the problem is grassroots leadership failure because leaders are flesh and blood too and there is need for them to be alive. I personally wrote to the present Commissioner of Police; telling him what is happening here. They even acknowledged receipt of my letter but they didn’t respond to my call to discuss the way forward. Up till now, I have not heard from any of them.

The community leaders are doing their best but they have to stay alive to do that.

''When the cult groups were initiating new members at their respective camps, security agents could not go there. That is why I was surprised when Ameachi said he had gadgets where he detects the places the bad boys are; that the gadgets were destroyed by the current governor. I wanted to ask him where were the gadgets when his serving Commissioner of Power was kidnapped and spent over one week inside the bush and paid a ransom of N110 million?

''Where were the gadgets when APC were doing rally under Ameachi at Rima with all the big people in APC including Senator Wilson Ake, Commissioner of Police, the Chairman of a Local Government, and yet, these bad boys sent a word across to the Ameachi led team to give them N20 million if the rally must hold in that community? At the end, they sent somebody with N7 million to the bush. When the cultists found out the money was not complete they seized the messenger until Amaechi completed the money.

Where were the gadgets when this happened?

Was Amaechi not the governor then?

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WORLD DAY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK - From Her Excellency, Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike

WORLD DAY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK: THURSDAY, 28TH APRIL, 2016.

World Day For Safety and Health at Work is an annual international campaign organised by the International Labour Organisation, observed on 28th April of evey year to  promote safe, healthy and decent work conditions.

A national, occupational, safety and healthy culture is one in which the right to a safe and healthy working environment is respected at all levels where government, employers and workers actively participate in securing a safe and healthy working environment through a system of defined rights, responsibilities and duties, where the highest priority is accorded to the principle of prevention.

Today in Nigeria, many workers are facing greater pressure to meet up the demands of modern working life. Psychological risks such as increased competition, higher expectations on performance and longer working hours are contributing to the workplace becoming an even  more stressful environment.

In addition to the current economic recession, reduced work opportunities, massive layoffs and decreased financial stability, most companies expose their workers to hazardous environments in the course of their duties which results to fatalities, accidents and illnesses.

The International Labour Organization reported that every year, some two million men and women lose their lives through accidents, illnesses or diseases linked  to their work. While there are about 270 million occupational accidents and 160 million occupational diseases.

The ILO is devoted to advancing opportunities for people to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. The goals of occupational safety and health is to protect workers, family members, employers, customers and many others who might be affected by the workplace environment.

Sadly, some Nigerian employers do not take issues of occupational health and safety seriously. Not because they do not know that it is important but l suspect that this is largely because most of them think keeping up to date on health and safety of workers will make them spend more money than they would like to. But research have shown that when workers are healthy and the work secured, the employer will make more profit because it will increase production and attract more people for investment.

The Employee's Compensation Act, 2010 places on all organizations (both public and private), the duty of care, decent, safe and healthy working environment as well as ensuring that adequate compensation is paid to any of its employees or their dependants for any injury, disease, disability or death arising out of or in the course of employment.

The theme for this year's observance is "Workplace Stress: A Collective Challenge". Work related issues are now generally acknowledged as global issues affecting all callings, professions, careers or occupations both in developing and developed  countries. It is an important source of psychological risks and an ideal venue to address them in order to protect the health and well being of workers.

Fatalities, accidents and illnesses at work are our collective responsibilities and are highly preventable. We all have the duty to act now for a safe and healthy work place.

God bless and keep you and your families.

From Her Excellency,
Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike,
The Wife of His Excellency,
Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON,
The Governor of Rivers State.

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OGONI CLEAN UP: UNNECESSARY POLITICISATION OF THE SURVIVAL OF A PEOPLE

The postponement of the Court-ordered rerun elections in the Ogoni axis has established a fundamental fact: the entire drama about Ogoni Cleanup in the lead-up to that ill-fated election, in Ogoni, was a charade aimed at securing Ogoni bloc votes by deception.

It is unacceptable that issues of development and in this case, one that has direct bearing on the lives of a people, would be shamelessly politicised.

The continued survival of Ogonis should not be reduced to political partisanship. The approach deployed in seeking to hoodwink Ogonis is not different from those proscribed by extant Nigerian laws on obtaining by false pretenses and shouldn't be encouraged by governmental or political systems.

One would have thought that based on the sagacity displayed, days to the rerun elections, by the Minister of Environment, the clean up process would have reached an advanced stage by now. But here we are, as we are, and where we were prior to those visits. Nothing has changed in spite of the promise of change.

It's just unfortunate.

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Bloodbath in Enugu as Fulani herdsmen, burn church, houses, kill 48

Fulani herdsmen yesterday invaded an agrarian community, Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government, Enugu State.

Forty eight members of the community were killed.

Over 60 houses, church and shops were set ablaze by the invading herdsmen. About 56 injured residents are receiving treatment at hospitals in Nsukka.

The attack came two days after a security report hinted of an impending attack by Fulani herdsmen in the area.

The report had said the community would be invaded by about 500 Fulani herdsmen from Nasarawa State.

A team of soldiers and mobile police drafted to the area after the report of the invasion filtered into the state was overpowered by the herdsmen.

The invaders, who came into Ukpabi-Nimbo in the wee hours of yesterday, were said to have used grenades, AK 47 and other dangerous weapons.

According to the residents, the herdsmen “were indiscriminately shooting and cutting our kinsmen with machetes”.

As at yesterday evening, some residents said those killed have exceeded the initial 48 brought to the Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, by policemen.

Transitional Committee Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Cornell Onwubuya said despite efforts to stop the attack, the herdsmen still went ahead to unleash mayhem on the community.

Enugu Police, in a statement, said it had commenced “a full scale investigation into the alleged killing of six persons at Nimbo in Uzo Uwani Local Government by suspected herdsmen”.

The police said following a report, the Commissioner of Police, Nwaodibo Ekechukwu, mobilised and left with operatives to ensure that the incident did not degenerate into an uncontrollable situation and to work out strategies aimed at fishing out those behind it and to bring them to book.

The police said normalcy has returned to the area.

Ekechukwu ,who visited the area, urged the people of Nimbo to continue to be law-abiding and never to take laws into their hands.

But a worker at Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, confirmed receiving 30 bodies and 22 injured persons in the morning.

Hundreds of displaced residents are reported to be taking refuge in Nsukka.

The Council of Bishops of Methodist Church of Nigeria yesterday described the continued onslaught by Fulani herdsmen as primitive and lamentable.

They called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take actions to stop the carnage.

The bishops said a situation where Fulani herdsmen would sack a community, villages and kill hundreds of people in a bid to feed and protect their cattle was unacceptable.

Speaking after their 34th Conference in Ibadan, presided over by the Prelate, Dr. Samuel Chukwuemeka Uche, they said Nigerians should no longer keep sacrificing human lives for the grazing of cows.

The council, in a communiqué at the end of the conference, decried the menace of Fulani herdsmen, which it said was now becoming worse than the Boko Haram insurgency.

They urged the Federal Government to establish ranches rather than creating grazing zones which, it observed, might create more problems.

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"Falsehood and time are mortal enemies" By Marshal Obuzor

This statement could not better be proven than in the events that occured in the run-up to the Rivers rerun elections.
Just before the elections, Mrs Amina Mohammed Nigeria's Minister of Environment visited Ogoni land twice in 10 days. She was in Ogoni land on the 4th and about the 14th of March.

Her tale was that she was in Ogoni land on the order of President Muhammadu Buhari to prepare the ground for his (President Buhari) visit to flag-off the Ogoni clean-up exercise and that the implementation of the UNEP report would start before the end of March.

What she was saying was music to the ear of Niger deltan's.
Oh! the Ogonis were exhilarated,
Like a man drowning in the sea would grasp at any hand offered to him without second thought the Ogonis grasped for the hand offered to save them from the sea of oil pollution that had engulfed their land but it seems that hand offered was a mirage.

The implementation of the UNEP report formed the bases of campaign for Magnus Abe and other APC candidates.

It was used like a subtle but potent leverage to sell APC candidates. Their story was simple, voting Magnus Abe/APC was the only way for the UNEP report to be implemented.
As God would have it, the Rerun elections were postponed in that area and the time given by the Minister of Environment for the implementation of the UNEP report has come and gone.

The APC led government has maintained a suspicious silence on this issue. The talk of the UNEP report implementation seems to have mirrored the tempo of the election and has risen and died with that of the rerun election.

Did Magnus/APC Rivers State take advantage of the genuine intention of the Minister of Environment or was Mrs Mohammed sent to Rivers State by Magnus/APC to intentionally deceive the Ogonis for political gains?

I leave that one for you to answer.

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RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE FREE BUS SERVICE FOR STUDENTS

The Rivers Government, on Monday, announced that plans were underway to provide a free bus service for students in the state.

The Commissioner for transport, Mr Dagogo Fubara, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt.

He said the service would begin before July, noting that the gesture was to alleviate the suffering of students in their bid to go to school.

Fubara explained that buses would take off from Borikiri to Mile 3 and take back students after school.
He said the service was strictly for students, stressing that students must be in their school uniforms to
enjoy the service.

The commissioner stressed the need for students to be orderly and disciplined while benefiting from the
service.

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I will run for presidency under PDP in 2019 – Lamido

Former Gov Sule Lamido of Jigawa on Monday, said he would contest for presidency on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019.

Lamido made this known to newsmen in his village – Bamaina – in Birnin-kudu Local Government Area of the State.

He, however, said a party’s ticket was not given to anybody on the platter of gold, adding that a candidate must earn it.

“If my party finds me worthy of the party’s presidential ticket to serve Nigeria, I will thank God and oblige.

“Although there are issues in the party that we are all working to resolve, we hope to have success soon and come out united.

“As I’m talking to you now, we are working silently to resolve our differences and bring back to our fold those that left the party for APC”, he said.

The former governor held that the internal crisis in PDP was the reason for its defeat in 2015 general elections.

He said that the party had the capacity to rule the country again but the members must work hard to achieve that.

Lamido denied any rift between him and his successor, Gov. Muhammad Badaru of APC.

He stated that both of them had mutual respect for each other and he had no differences with him other than political ideologies.

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Nigeria drivers’ licence expiration extended to five years

The Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Officer of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, weekend said the Federal Government had approved the extension of the validity period of Drivers’ licence to five years.

 The Corps Marshal explained that this was part of communiqué reached by the Joint Tax Board at the end of its 134th meeting held in Kano. The Corps Marshal in a chat with Transport Editors in Lagos, said rather than Drivers’ licence expiring in three years, drivers now had the option of settling for either three or five years licence.

 But he noted that those who wanted the five years drivers licence would have to pay slightly more. He noted that while drivers were expected to pay N6,000 for the three years’ licence, those who opted for the five years’ licence would pay N10,000.00.

According to him, the Board had approved an optional validity period for Drivers’ Licence of three and five years respectively at different cost to provide more efficient and effective service delivery to its customers.

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WORLD MALARIA DAY - From Her Excellency, Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike

WORLD MALARIA DAY: APRIL 25TH, 2016.

World Malaria Day is an international day observed on 25th April of every year  in celebration of the gains made in the fight against malaria and to further mobilize action of combating the burden of malaria through education and understanding of causes, treatment and prevention of malaria.

World Malaria Day is one of the 8th official global public health campaigns currently marked by World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO fact sheet of 2015 shows that there were about 438,000 deaths caused by malaria in 2015 within the African continent and is still the leading cause of death among children under five, giving us reasons to further take more pro active actions in the fight against malaria.

Malaria is a life threatening blood disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans through the bite of the female anopheles mosquito. Once the infected mosquito bites a human and transmits the plasmodium parasite, those parasites multiply in the host's liver infecting and destroying the red blood cells which may result to death if not promptly and properly treated.

Symptoms of malaria can be classified into two categories. Uncomplicated and severe malaria.  In cases of uncomplicated malaria, likely symptoms are cold, shivering, fever, headache, vomiting, seizures (which occurs in children), tiredness and sweat. These symptoms can be easily detected and treated with proper prescription of drugs or injections by certified medical personnel.

But in cases of severe malaria, clinical and laboratory evidence of vital organs dysfunction is shown which can be very fatal if untreated. Symptoms include fever, chills, impaired consciousness, multiple convulsions, deep breathing and respiratory distress, abnormal bleeding, anaemia etc. Death becomes inevitable if not handled urgently. 

The growing concern that the current spate of drug and insecticide resistance is a threat to the frail gains in malaria control over the years and Rivers State being a flat plain region of Nigeria with network of rivers and creeks in most of our communities which favours breeding of mosquitoes, gives us enough reasons to intensify efforts of ending malaria.

Malaria is preventable. It can be prevented by sleeping with insecticide treated bed nets. Long lasting insecticidal nets have proved to be one of the least expensive but most effective weapon in the fight against malaria. It is unfortunate that most of us ignore the importance of sleeping with treated bed nets as a way of protecting ourselves from mosquito bites that cause malaria.

Just like I will always emphasize, keep your environment clean. Dirty environment and dirty drainage systems with stagnant water serves as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Use effective mosquito sprays in rooms before going to bed. Mosquitoes that transmit malaria are most active at night and as such, we should endeavour to stay indoors (mostly children) before dusk and dawn. Most importantly, we should do regular medical check ups to know our status even when symptoms have not shown.

It is worthy to state that defeating malaria is critical to ending poverty and improving maternal and child health. Less malaria means healthier societies, increased attendance at work, schools etc. Malaria still needs to be given more attention due to its negative impact mostly on our children, pregnant women and their unborn babies.

I therefore call on all  stakeholders in the health sector, governmental and non governmental organizations, well meaning citizens of our dear Rivers State and indeed, the entire Nigeria, to reinforce efforts of reducing the burden of  malaria in our State in particular and the Nation at large.

Don't just watch people die of malaria. Let us all unanimously participate in ending  malaria for good today!

God bless and keep you and your families.

From Her Excellency,
Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike,
The Wife of His Excellency,
Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON,
The Governor of Rivers State.

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WORLD BOOK AND COPYRIGHT DAY - Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike

World Book and Copyright Day is a yearly event celebrated on April 23rd and organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It is aimed at encouraging everyone and in particular, the  young ones, to discover the pleasure of reading books.

A book is a link between the past and the future, a bridge between generations which cuts across cultures. It is a force for creating and sharing wisdom and knowledge. Books create the door way to mutual respect and understanding between people across all boundaries and differences.

The idea for celebrating this day originated in Catalonia where 23rd April was St George's Day. A rose was traditionally given as a gift for each book sold. It is also symbolic for World literature for on this date in the year 1616, Cervantes, Shakespeare and Ca Garcilaso de larega, all died.

Today's observance gives us an opportunity of re-emphasizing the importance of imbibing the reading culture. Reading is an activity which is done over a period of time in order to acquire knowledge, skills and positive attitude. It is a fundamental building block of learning and enhancement of the general development of man and his society.

No nation can develop without its people developing the right reading culture. Besides, reading makes a man and it helps to develop the mind to be informed, thoughtful and constructive, with better understanding of issues, events and situations. It has the capacity of boosting one's self confidence and depth in perception and discernment. That is why it is often said that if you teach a child to read, you have made him a king.

Personally, I find reading very calming. It is a habit that not only improves your diction and expand your vocabulary, it also has the power to transport you to places you may never physically visit and have experiences you may never have the opportunity to encounter first hand. Reading allows you to understand and accept other people better and especially for children, it is a good way to discipline them by keeping them still for a while.

Unfortunately, the reading culture is declining everyday in Nigeria, especially among the younger generation who are of course, our future leaders. This has continued to have an adverse effect on the nation's literacy rate which is currently at 48%. It must be realized that no nation can develop without its people developing the right reading culture. And for Nigeria to realize its quest for sustainable development, emphasis must be placed on developing the reading culture in the people.

It is so sad seeing our students and youth daily losing interest in reading and spending more time watching home videos, partying and surfing the internet to the detriment of reading good, enlightening and educational books whilst most of the older ones amongst us are constantly occupied with the quest for material acquisitions which has eroded the desire to search for knowledge. At this point, I  must  state that every knowledge a man needs to develop himself and his society has been deposited in books. It is only available to those who search for it. The greatest treasures in Iife are in books.

As part of the celebration of this global observance day this year, I have mapped out plans of visiting primary and secondary schools in turn, to further create the awareness and encourage Rivers young boys and girls on the importance of inculcating the reading habit.

And because writing cannot be divorced from reading, I also intend to organize essay competitions in the future with attractive prizes which will involve students at different levels and also professionals in order to boost our passion for writing and reading. I just may have a little surprise myself in sometime to come. We will see about that.

Just like the Pakistani school girl Malala Yousafzai once stated, "our books and pens are the most powerful weapons", let us start reading today to secure our tomorrow!

God bless and keep you and your families.

From Her Excellency,
Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike,
The Wife of His Excellency,
Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON,
The Governor of Rivers State.

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Saraki rejects new clerk of Nationl Assembly

Senate President Bukola Saraki has directed the national assembly service commission to withdraw the appointment of Sani Omolori as acting clerk of the assembly.

The appointment of Omolori was announced on Wednesday, but he was to assume office on May 13, replacing Salisu Maikasuwa who will commence his pre-retirement leave on May 14.

But in a letter written by Isa Galadau, chief of staff to Saraki, to Adamu Fika, chairman of the commission, and seen by reporters, the senate president said he was misled and misinformed by Fika.

He opined that Benedict Efeturi, deputy clerk of the national assembly, who once acted as clerk, ought to have been the head of the bureaucracy of the legislature based on seniority.

“We present to you the compliments of the president of the senate and chairman of the national assembly, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON. Please recall that during your last meeting with the senate president on April 20, 2016, the procedure of the appointment of the acting clerk of the national assembly was discussed,” the letter read.

“The commission was directed to follow due process and ensure that seniority is adhered to. Of course, Mr Benedict Efeturi who is deputy clerk of the national assembly (DCNA) and who has previously acted as the clerk of the national assembly should be the first to be considered.

“The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives were informed that Mr. Efeturi was not considered for the appointment because he was not duly appointed as deputy clerk of the national assembly.

“On further enquiry, we found out that he was duly appointed by the National Assembly Service Commission vide extract from minutes of its 403rd meeting held on Friday, 21st November, 2014.

“From the foregoing, you have misled and misinformed the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives.

“Consequently, I am directed by His Excellency, the senate president, to inform you that the letter appointing Mr Sani Omolori as acting clerk of the national assembly be withdrawn immediately for further consultations.”

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EZE EJIKE WALI AS THE ROYAL FATHER OF THE DAY AT YOUTH-LEAD AFRICA PROJECT 2016

His Royal Highness, Eze Ejike Princewill Wali; the Eze Oha Okporo 1 and the Paramount Ruler of Mgbuesilaru Community, today attended the YOUTH-LEAD AFRICA PROJECT 2016 Conference organized by the Student Union Government (SUG) Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.

Eze Ejike who was the Royal Father of the day in his speech, thanked the student union government for finding him worthy of being the royal father of the day. 

The Eze who told a story of how a bicycle repairer trained all his children to university level, whom later became rich men and changed the history of their family and a rich man’s children that later became drug addicts and could not graduate from the University. Advised the students to take their studies very serious and always remember their parents that have sent them to school and try as much as possible to make them proud and happy at the end of their studies.

He also made a pledge to help the organizers of the programme to continue with the next phase of the project.

Eze Wali while speaking with Newest Rivers Reporters also advised the student to shun cultism totally, to be self determined and be focused.

He ended up by thanking the Governor of the State, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON for restoring the lost glory of the University.

The Acting SUG President Comrade Nnaa Faith B. and the SUG Secretary General who is also the convener of the Programme Comrade Nsirim Emmanuel, in their separate speeches thanked the delegates and members of high table for being part of the project and advised the students to take whatever knowledge gotten here serious.

Others dignitaries at the programme were the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University; Prof. Blessing Didia who was represented by his Personal Assistant, the Dean of Students Affairs Chief (Dr.) Isaac Zeb-Obibi and others.

The Keynote speaker was Dr. Sorbarikor Lebura and the Guest Speakers where: Pastor Wisdom Osiri, Allen Nwaka, Pastor Uche Onucheru, Maple Dappa, etc.

The Programme was indeed a huge success as students we spoke with testified to have been inspired and promised to apply the knowledge gotten from the programme into reality.

Kudos to the organizing committee and to Comrade Kelvin Amadi the Chairman of the organizing committee for the success of the event.

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