The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Port Harcourt

  • …in the eyes of the news

    Tukur
    Tukur

    Bamanga Tukur

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, is one of the few Nigerians in public glare for most of the outgoing year. He was at the centre of the crisis that has engulfed the ruling party and caused the disaffection that culminated in the recent defection of five PDP governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) had asked President Jonathan to remove him as the chairman of the party for him (Jonathan) to continue to enjoy their support. The governors were fighting the cause of the governor of Tukur’s home state, Murtala Nyako, whose structure in the state was allegedly hijacked by Tukur when he became the party’s national chairman.

    Jonathan’s continued refusal to honour the governors’ demand led to the emergence of a faction of the PDP, the New PDP, whose members included a former National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, former Vice President of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and seven PDP governors, among others. The crisis engendered by the face-off between Tukur and the NGF has continued to fester and could spell doom for the PDP.

     

     

    Okonjo-Iweala-manag-001Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

    If there is one minister who has been on the hot seat throughout this year, it would be the Supervising Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Her profile as a finance expert is not in doubt, having functioned as a Vice President and Managing Director of the World Bank and having contested the presidency of the bank. Besides, it is the second time she would be appointed the Minister of Finance, having functioned in the same capacity in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2003.

    As a ‘super’ minister in the Jonathan administration, she has continued to influence and shape the direction of the economic policies of the government tagged the Transformation Agenda.

    As the face of the government’s economic policies, she caused a stir at the House of Representatives last week as she engaged a committee of the House over the 2014 budget in a shouting match after she was asked to provide answers to 50 questions about the budget. She accused the lawmakers of disrespecting her office and humiliating her person.

    She also incurred the wrath of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) during the heat of its protracted strike, describing her as a “dictator” for declaring emphatically that the Federal Government cannot meet the union’s demands.

     

    JEGA

    Attahiru Jega

    The credibility and competence of the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, came under a serious test with the governorship election of Anambra State held on November 16. The way the election went exposed the Jega-led INEC to serious public criticism and led to calls in many quarters for the cancellation of the election.

    Incidentally, Jega himself had admitted that the election was flawed because thousands of voters in different parts of the state were disenfranchised as a result of the absence of voting materials or late arrival of same. But he said the election would not be cancelled as widely demanded, asking the aggrieved parties to go to court.

    This seemingly insensitive declaration drew the ire of many Nigerians, many of who expressed fears about the ability of the commission to conduct a credible election in 2015. The commission has, however, assured that in spite of its dismal showing in Anambra, it would not disappoint Nigerians in 2015.

     

     

     

     

    Minister-of-Aviation-Stella-OduahStella Oduah

    Without a doubt, the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah, has enjoyed the kind of publicity she was least prepared for in the outgoing year. Her source of ‘fame’ was the alleged purchase of two bulletproof cars for N255 million by her ministry without a provision for it in the budget and without the approval of the National Assembly.

    It has become one of the most challenging experiences of the minister with calls from many quarters for her immediate removal. But she seems to have enjoyed the favour of the Presidency so far as Jonathan appears not to be in a hurry to do away with her. Her case featured in the letter former President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote to President Jonathan recently, accusing the President of encouraging corrupt practices.

    Oduah was believed to have played a prominent role in the Jonathan’s presidential campaign in the build-up to the 2011 general elections.

    The defence of the Presidency over the Oduah matter has been that it is still studying the report of the presidential committee on the controversial purchase.

     

     

    Akpabio_784654753Governor Akpabio

    In the battle for the soul of the PDP, which has dominated the political discourse in the year, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, has played a prominent role as one of the most strident supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He is known to have played a very prominent role in the crisis that has engulfed the PDP in the year, having spearheaded the formation of a the quasi governors’ forum known as the PDP Governors’ Forum in February this year.

    This was build-up to the general election of the larger NGF in May, where two factions of the forum emerged. The incumbent, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, who reportedly emerged victorious in the election, leads the main faction, while Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, leads the other.

     

    CP Joseph Mbu

    The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, easily qualifies as the police officer who was most in the news in the outgoing year, even more than the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar. His source of publicity was his face-off with Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.

    Perhaps acting out the saying that he who pays the piper dictates the tune, Mbu’s actions in the crisis that has engulfed the state for most of the year were believed to have favoured the President and First Lady’s camp against that of Amaechi.

    The high point of Mbu’s alleged bias is seen in the widely publicised blockade of the road that led to the Rivers State Government House while the governor was on a tour of some projects in the state.

    Even in the 31-member House of Assembly where seven members are plotting Amaechi’s impeachment, the CP is believed to have demonstrated more sympathy for the seven against pro-Amaechi’s 24.

    Little wonder there have been calls from the Amaechi camp, the National Assembly and other quarters for Mbu’s redeployment from the state, a plea that the police authorities have refused to carry out.

    At various times, however, Mbu has claimed that he is merely carrying out his professional duties.

     

    Sullivan-ChimeGovernor Sullivan Chime

    Lawyer-turned-politician and governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, might have had a quiet outing in the early part of the year, but all that gave way to the public outcry and anxiety that trailed his departure abroad unannounced for about four months. He was later discovered to have gone for medical treatment for cancer of the nose.

    The dust raised by his long absence from the state had barely settled when the governor again came under public scrutiny over his handling of his wife, Clara, who alleged that the governor locked him up in a room in the Government House Enugu in controversial circumstances.

    Chime insisted that he had to lock Clara up because she was suffering from depression, but the woman has since refuted the claim. Both have since separated, with Clara believed to be staying with her mum in Port Harcourt, Rivers State .

     

     

     

     

    KESHIStephen Keshi

    The times can hardly be better for the coach of the country’s senior national soccer team, Stephen Keshi. The Super Eagles coach, who captained the team when it won the African Nations Cup in 1994, made history as the second African to achieve a similar feat when he won the tournament again in January as a coach.

    The Super Eagles won the competition without losing a match and followed that up with its qualification for next year’s FIFA World Cup competition in Brazil. The team also represented the African continent at the Confederations Cup competition where they gave a good account of themselves in Brazil in June.

    All eyes are on Keshi to do the nation proud with his squad again when they file out against other countries for the much coveted World Cup trophy in June next year.

  • Of high , discrepancies in varsities’ fees

    SIR: The federal government owned tertiary institutions, despite their irregularities and shortcomings remain the hope of many Nigerians in acquiring tertiary education. This is as a result of their low fee charges. These institutions are comparatively cheaper than their state and private counterparts, in terms of fees charged.

    The Federal Government has always subsidized these fees to the benefit of the average masses, which many of our today’s leaders and public officials benefited from. However, this practice of low fee charges is ebbing away, giving room to such practices one can hardly imagine.

    How can one understand or explain the situation where the federal universities have wide differences amongst them in the fees charged? How can one understand or explain the case where the rates of these differences are as high as 50%, 100% and above? In the 2012/2013 session, a fresh student was required to pay N45, 000 in Obafemi Awolowo University; N70, 000 in University of Lagos; N91, 000 in University of Benin; N70, 000 in University of Port Harcourt; N86,000 in Nnamdi Azikiwe University during registration.

    The mind boggling questions are: what are the causes for the non-harmonized charges in these institutions? What are really the bases for the great margin of differences in fees amongst federal schools?

    It is not only the disparities in fees charged that have to be called to question, but also the high amount; caused by the incessant increments by some of these schools. Many of the federal universities have become places where fees are hiked indiscriminately without considering the plight of the students some of who barely survive on campus.

    In the University of Port Harcourt, school fees have been on regular increase. In 2010/2011 session, the fee in the faculty of Management Sciences was N53, 300 for fresh students. In 2012/2013 session, it was increased to N69, 850. In the 2013/2014 session yet to commence, the system was totally changed with another increment. The school usually has all fees (except the accommodation fee) captured in the school fees payment receipt, including the acceptance fee. Now, in this new session, the acceptance fee of N30, 000 has to be paid, first, before access to the online registration. It was really alarming to discover that the acceptance fee was not captured in the school fees nalysis; which, now, amount to N77,000. Going by the information on the webpage of the institution, it is clear that anyone given admission by the school this 2013/2014 session would have to pay whooping amount of N107, 000, aside accommodation fee (N19,500). Isn’t this outrageous?It is

    high time the federal government, through its relevant agencies, looked into these excesses. Government, through its agencies, must be all out in monitoring the management processes of our institutions to rid them of corruption at all levels. Also a platform that would enable students make necessary complaints of the unjust practices by school authorities without fear should be provided by the government as this will promote accountability.

    It will amount to defeating the objectives of revamping our tertiary education if many people are denied access to them through unscrupulously high and increasing fees.

    • Simon Tochi

    University of PortHarcourt

    Rivers State

  • Fire guts Mile 1 market in Port Harcourt

    Fire guts Mile 1 market in Port Harcourt

    The popular Mile 1 market in Port Harcourt, Rivers, was gutted by an early morning fire that destroyed properties and goods worth millions of naira.

    Eyewitnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the fire started at about 2.00 am on Tuesday and razed the entire make-shift market.

    The fire also affected a two storey residential building housing some lock-up stores.

    One of the traders, Mr. Chimdi Eze, said he lost jewelries worth more than N2 million to the fire.

    Eze said that the painful aspect was that he just received stock worth N600, 000 for the Christmas sales.

    ”I just lost everything to the fire,” he said.

    Another trader, Mr. Chinecherem Ndubuisi, said he lost electronics worth more than N3 million, adding that starting afresh would be very difficult for him since he did not have enough capital.

    Mrs. Ebere Okoye, a trader and resident of the burnt residential building, who could not control her tears, said her entire life savings and properties had been consumed by the inferno

    Ebere, a widow and mother of four, said she did not know how she could provide accommodation for and feed her children.

    “Ever since I lost my husband, life has been difficult and will even be harder now that I have lost everything.

    “Government and well-meaning Nigerians should come to my aid because as it stands now, the only thing keeping me alive is my children,” she said amidst outburst.

    Some others traders told NAN that they did not only lose their goods to the inferno, they also lost cash worth several thousands of naira which they left in the market.

    They said they normally left the proceeds from their last sales in the shops due to the closure of banks.

    Mr. Christopher Uwajeh, an eye-witness, who praised the resilience of the firemen, said the Police and men of the State Security Service were at the scene to curtail breakdown of law and order.

  • Gunmen attack Sharks captain, Odinga Odinga

    Sharks captain, Odinga Odinga escaped death on Monday afternoon when he was attacked by gunmen in Agbor-Nchia, near Port Harcourt.

    Confirming the incident to supersport.com, Odinga said one of the gunmen was Sharks attacker, Adurlur Nwaka.

    Odinga said he was accosted by Nwaka and four gun-wielding individuals believed to be his friends inside a supermarket where the Sharks skipper was doing some shopping.

    “It was a scary incident as Nwaka said he was bent ‘gaining revenge’ over an incident that occurred in the past. His license was recently withdrawn at the club by officials and he blamed me for it,” Odinga told supersport.com.

    The Sharks captain was eventually rescued by men of the Nigeria Police who promptly reacted to the situation.

    “I want to thank God for sparing my life and also the Police for the swift manner in which the reacted and doused a potentially fatal situation,” he said.

    The five gunmen escaped as soon as the Police arrived at the scene.

  • It’s been one year of sorrow

    It’s been one year of sorrow

    …Parents of UNIPORT 4 relive ordeal

    JUSTICE is yet to be dispensed after a mob at Umokiri Aluu community in Ikwerre LGA, Rivers State, meted out jungle justice to four undergraduate students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) who were accused of stealing. Today makes it exactly one year when a Geology student, Ugonna Obuzor (18); a Civil Engineering student, Lloyd Toku Mike (19); a Theatre Art student, Chiadika Biringa (20) and a Mechanical Engineering student, Tekena Elkanah (20) were killed by a mob that also burnt their bodies.

    The Nation reliably gathered during the week that even the lead suspect who reportedly raised the alarm that the murdered students were thieves was yet to be arrested. His alarm was said to have attracted the attention of the vigilance group that rushed to the scene to hold the victims and also strip them naked. They later paraded the deceased students naked on the streets of the community until they arrived at the palace of the traditional ruler and were later lynched for allegedly stealing laptop computers and cell phones.

    But after carrying out an investigation, the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Mohammed, cleared the victims of the allegations levelled against them. At a news conference held in Abuja, the IG said the allegations levelled against the deceased students were false and baseless. The parents of the deceased students had invited the IG to take over the investigations after declaring that they had lost confidence in the police in Rivers State, having failed to rescue the victims from the mob before they were killed.

    The police had claimed that they were over-powered by the crowd, and that before they (police) could reinforce and storm the scene, the hapless students had been killed and burnt.

    Umuokiri community is widely referred to as university village because of its nearness to the university campus, particularly the Delta Park Campus. The community hosts more students of the institution than the other eight sister communities of Aluu because of its proximity to the school. Most of the private hostels are located in the community and the students patronise them more than the ones located elsewhere.

    Incidentally, many of the students in the community alleged that the natives of Umokiri were good at maltreating their tenants. Twelve of the suspects arrested in connection with the incident, including the paramount ruler of Aluu, Alhaji Hassan Welewa, are still in custody awaiting judgment. So also are the victims’ families and the world at large.

    The prosecution opened his case at the last sitting in August. The police officer who led the team that investigated the killing was also in court at the last sitting in August. His evidence was yet to be concluded. He was the first prosecution witness in the matter that has more than 20 witnesses.

    The parents of the victims are agitated. They want justice to be done in the case and very fast too. They believe that justice in the case would ease the pains they are suffering over the deaths of their children.

    Three of the parents who spoke to The Nation on life without their deceased children in the last one year, prayed that justice would soon be done in the case.

    Few days after the killing had elicited public outcry, students of UNIPORT and some members of the teaching staff embarked on a protest march, blocking the East-West Road of the school. The protesters also moved into Umokiri community, destroying houses in protest against the killing of their colleagues.

    To keep the memories of their deceased loved ones alive, the parents of the Aluu 4 plan to launch a foundation known as Four Friends Dream Alive today. According to them, apart from immortalising the deceased students, the foundation would form a platform for campaign against insecurity and insufficient hostel accommodation on campuses, among others, with a view to preventing a re-occurrence of the fate that befell their children.

    For fear of arrest after the incident, the community was deserted by its residents for several months, leaving only members of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), who were drafted to secure it against the angry UNIPORT students.

    Following the students’ protests, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph A. Ajienka, shut down the institution and ordered all the students to vacate their hostels and go back home until peace returned. The school was under lock and key for close to one month to forestall complete breakdown of law and order which could lead to the destruction of properties in the school.

    Most of the students refused to vacate the school. Few days after the shut-down, a student and a youth corps member were shot by unknown gun men in front of the school.

    Parents of the four victims, popularly referred to as UNIPORT/ALUU 4, relived their agonies in separate chats with The Nation.

     

    I have memories of my burning son each time I see fire —Lloyd Mike’s Mother, Mrs. Jane Mike Toku

    “But for the grace of God, I don’t think I would still be alive today,” said Lloyd Mikes’ mother, Jane. “What happened was so sudden and devastating. Every Friday seems like a black Friday for my husband since the incident happened. The moment it is Friday, he slips into a kind of mood that seems like the world is standing still for him.

    “For me as the mother, it has not been easy for me either, because Lloyd and I were very close. There were things he could tell me which he would not tell the father. Going to the kitchen has not been easy since my son’s death, because I watched a little bit of what happened to my baby.

    “I saw how he was beaten again and again, and how he was tortured, torn and burnt. So, each time I go near fire, it brings back the memory. I go to the kitchen and feel a little bit of heat. It takes me back to that incident and the next thing is that I will begin to cry and walk out of the kitchen.

    “For this one year, to tell you the truth, it has not been easy. What would I say about his younger ones? No day passes without they remembering him. All they do is to sing and play his music. We had to move away from where we were living for this place to see if we can forget. There, it was as if his presence was everywhere around the house. As you moved from one part of the house to the other, it was as if he was around, and the next thing you remember is the pain he went through.

    “People die every day. If he was sick and died, there would not have been any problem. But the torture, the pain he went through is what has refused to leave my mind. The moment it is 3 am, my eyes are dried of sleep. All I do is to think about my boy and his three friends and what they went through.”

    She said her boy’s growing up days were good. According to her, although Lloyd was a bit stubborn, he was obedient and respectful.

    “He swept the house, bathed his younger ones and assisted in other house chores. But he did not know how to cook. Lloyd was the only child in the family for 11 years. My husband and I had already resigned to fate that we might not have another child. But when we least expected, the others came.

    “So, for a very long time, he was the only child we had. You can imagine the kind of love and affection that were poured on him. Even after the other ones came, our love for him did not wane. Lloyd was like my husband. Most people did not believe that he was my child.

    “My son had great dreams for us the parents and the younger ones. It was his desire to finish school quickly and start making money so he could send his younger ones overseas to study. He had always told them that the Nigeria school system and environment were not good enough, and that they shouldn’t worry, he would send them abroad to study.

    “You could imagine the kind of joy that overwhelmed my heart when I overheard him telling them that. My husband and I were not around. I just walked in when he was talking to them. I was like thank God, this boy is already making plans for his younger brothers. If so, then we had a shoulder to lean on tomorrow, I concluded in my heart.

    “The father was very optimistic of him, and kept challenging him to graduate quickly so he could begin to take responsibilities for his younger ones. But like a candle in the wind…”

     

    Life without my son is like food without salt, says Chiadika’s mother

    For Chiadika Biringa’s mother, Chinwe, one year without his late son is an experience she does not wish even her enemy.

    She said: “Honestly, I did not know that I could still be alive till today. This informed the reason for my giving praises to God Almighty every day. Life without Chiadika is like food without salt. But I won’t question God. He gave Chiadika to me. If He did not permit Chiadika’s death, He would have averted it. Since it pleased Him, I give glory to Him for my life.

    “I have always believed that jungle justice is not good. Nobody is guilty until he/she is found guilty. All I want now is justice.”

    She described her late son as awesome, brilliant, gentle, friendly, respectful and compassionate.

    She said: “I will always remember him for his care, love and observance. Chiadika was a child that each time I made my hair and stepped into the house, he would be the first to observe and admire me. When the father shaved his hair, he would be the one to observe first and commend it.

    “What am I talking about here? What can I say about my gifted son? There are lots of things to remember him for every day. He would rather go without food for his younger brothers to eat, if there was shortage in the house.

    “He loved me so much. You know he was my first son. So, we were very close. He was very instructive and took every piece of good advice given him.”

    Suspecting mysterious connection in the death of the four first sons of their parents, she asked: “Why must they be first sons, of the same age bracket? It is only God that can tell, and I want Him to unravel it.

    “He grew up with hard work and discipline. He attended Staff Nursery and Primary School, Federal Government College, Rumuokoro, and later proceded to the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Borokiri, both in Port Harcourt, and then UNIPORT where he was in second year Theatre Arts before he was abruptly caught off in cold blood.

    “My son was a brilliant chap for whom no heart quaked on whether or not he would pass his examinations and very well too, because he was above average in class. My child was in ‘B’ brain category. He went into Theatre Arts because of his passion for acting and dancing.”

     

    The vacuum created by Ugonna’s death can’t be filled —Father, Mr. Messiah Obuzor

    “One year without Ugonna has been quite difficult for the family. It is something that we didn’t imagine could happen. The vacuum created by Ugonna’s absence cannot be filled. I still have not actually come to terms with the fact that the boy is not there, because on a daily basis, the thought of him is there. Not just with me alone but with the other siblings. Words cannot capture it. We grieve over it every other day. It has happened. We look up to God.”

    Recalling the growing up days of his late son, he said: “Ugonna grew up under my own tutelage. The only time he had left my immediate environment was his early years in secondary school (junior secondary school). Thereafter, he came back and lived with me until he left secondary school.

    “He left my immediate environment again when he entered the university for two years before he was killed.

    “I knew him well enough. He never lied to me, irrespective of the situation. We were not just like father and son, we were like the best of friends. He was as tall as I am. He didn’t have any major lack that someone should tag him a thief and kill him. Well, I know that God knows the truth.”

    The soft-spoken father explained why the bereaved parents decided to float a foundation, which would be inaugurated in honour of the victims today.

    According to him, “We cannot continue to sorrow for life. What happened to us could have happened to any other child that is exposed to a similar situation in the university environment.

    “We have the feeling that if we just let it go, it will still continue to be happening. The essence for setting up the foundation is to fill some gaps within the university communities in order to forestall a re-occurrence of what happened to us.

    “We are of the view that if we float a foundation, we can intervene in certain areas where students are exposed to risk in the university environment, so that what we will not be able to do, the foundation can.

    “We are going to build hostels in the university, so that students will no longer live off campus to face what our children faced when they were killed.

    “Again, the foundation intends to carry a campaign that will sensitise the police enough such that if there is any activity going on within the school environment which the students are not comfortable with, they can reach out to the police. If any of the students had called or reached out to the police when they were killing our sons, maybe the police would have got there before they were killed.”

    On Ugonna’s unfulfilled dreams, he said: “As a young man, Ugonna dreamt of becoming a great man. He actually wanted to read Civil Engineering, but when that didn’t appear to be what he was realising, he opted for Geology. But he still kept his dream of becoming a civil engineer alive. He would always tell me that after his course in Geology, he would still go back to read Civil Engineering. And for his age, I assured him that he had no problem; he could still go on if he wished. And because he was an intelligent child, I knew he could do it. Unfortunately what happened just happened.”

    Eighteen persons, including the paramount ruler of Aluu community, Alhaji Hassan Welewa, a retired police sergeant, a woman and three students of the university were held and charged to court in connection with the killings.

  • ASUU strike: Students protest in Port Harcourt

    Scores of students of the five universities in Rivers and Bayelsa states yesterday staged a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

    The protesters barricaded the ever-busy East-West Road at Choba Junction, for several hours.

    The students were from the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT); Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt; Ignatius Ajuru (formerly Rivers State) University of Education, Port Harcourt; the Niger Delta University (NDU), Wilberforce Island and the Federal University, Otuoke, both in Bayelsa State.

    The students, who said they were tired of sitting at home, chanted anti-Federal Government songs.

    There were riot and regular policemen at the scene to prevent a breakdown of law and order. Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and patrol vehicles were deployed in the area.

    The students carried placards bearing various inscriptions.

    Some of the placards read: “FG, respect 2009 agreement with ASUU”; “President Jonathan, you were a lecturer, let ASUU members return to work now”; “Nigerian universities’ students want to return to classroom”; “Politicians’ children are schooling overseas”; “FG must end ASUU strike now”.

    The ASUU Chairman at UNIPORT, Prof. Antonia Okerengwo, told reporters that there was nothing to renegotiate in the 2009 agreement between the union and the government.

    He urged the Federal Government to honour the agreement it voluntarily entered into with ASUU.

    Okerengwo assured that ASUU members would return to the classroom as soon as the Federal Government honoured the 2009 agreement.

     

     

     

  • C Strokes gives expectant mothers N2 million at album launch

    Reggae musician C Strokes brought smiles to the faces of expectant mothers last Saturday in Port Harcourt. It was at the launch of his album. C Strokes, whose real name is Chimbiko Akarolo, is the Mayor of Port Harcourt.

    Aside the album launch, he also inaugurated the Caroline Akarolo Foundation (CAF).

    The foundation was set up in memory of the politician cum musician’s late wife, who died during childbirth in 2011.

    He said his wife’s death opened his eyes to the pains and dangers of childbearing and led to the establishment of the foundation to assist pregnant women, orphans and women in general. Speaking on behalf of pregnant women, who benefited from the artiste’s gesture, Mrs. Grace Stanley, praised her benefactor and his foundation for the gesture.

    She said: “Every woman on earth needs a man who will love her the way Chimbiko loved his wife. You can imagine the pain in his heart and the love he shows to poor pregnant women here today is a demonstration of a real love he had for his late wife.

    “He has promised a lot to pregnant women, which will be accomplished through Caroline Akarolo Foundation. We will continue to pray for him, and I know God will bless him more and strengthen his family.”

    Speaking with Niger Delta Report after a pulsating performance and rendition of some songs in the 11-track album, C stroke said his inspiration to sing came after the death of his wife. He said his musical activities would be purely for charity, adding that funds realised from the launch and sale of the albums would go to the CAF for the provision of amenities that would assist pregnant women and orphans. He said: “I am in love with reggae music because it gives me the opportunity to reflect on what is happening in our environment. I sing for charity, which started after the demise of my lovely wife. Today, I am opportuned to have whatever I want but what of those who lost their love ones or relatives but have nowhere to go or anyone to hear them out? “

    We have set up Caroline Akarolo Foundation headed by Dr. Sampson Parker; the foundation will be used to address issues of antenatal, how to register, to be available to doctors, medication and to ensure that necessary information regarding their health during pregnancy are provided to them.

    “My mission is to use music to preach the gospel of love. Our ambulance is coming soon, and it has all the equipment to assist pregnant women and other emergencies. I don’t want people to experience what I passed through.” Members of board of the CAF include Dr. Parker, Rivers State Commissioner of Health (Chairman); Hon, Azubike Wanjoku, member Rivers State House of Assembly; Chief MacClean Uranta and Belema Papamie, (Secretary).

    August last year, he released a single, which was dedicated to his late wife. His latest work is a 11-tracker reggae album,which transverse all aspects of the music genre including lovers’ rock, dance etc, with message and support for the poor in the society. The high point of the event was rendition of songs from the album by the musician and other artistes who thronged the Arcum Centre to honour C Strokes.

    In an earlier interview, C Strokes explained the philosophy behind the album. He said: “The album title is ‘Reality’ and it has conscious music, lovers’ rock. Reggae is a wonderful channel to reach people, express yourself as an artiste and let people know that there are good reggae artistes out there willing to contribute to the industry. If you listen to my songs, you will hear clearly; I wasn’t aided by the system. My music is evergreen and it is going to last. If a song has message, you can play it over and over again. I am not thinking about immediate reward for my music.” He said his late wife was one of those who encouraged him not to let his musical talents die.

    “She had enormous influence on me and my music. Before she died, one day she came to me and said ‘you stopped playing the keyboard. When I met you, you were marvellous on the keyboard and you used to sing for me. The children don’t even know you play music. Why don’t you get a keyboard and teach them?’ After that, I met my producer who also told me people don’t know my talent because I just kept it to yourself. I said I was too busy. But as soon as she transited, I got the message and when my producer came in, it was like my wife was talking through my producer. So, I decided to use my music for charity.”

  • Port Harcourt Book Festival

    When the Port Harcourt Book Festival (former Garden City Literary Festival) was initiated in 2008, under the leadership of Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi, the primary aim was to develop a love for reading among Port Harcourt residents. Since then, the festival has drawn participants from the city, across Nigeria and abroad and has evolved to a one-stop event for writers, booksellers, literary connoisseurs, and all major players in the book industry.

    For this year, the festival will opene between October 21 and – October 26 with the theme Literature and the Creative Economy. Running alongside the festival is a book fair where visitors get the best picks of their desired books. The fair also serves as a premium location for exhibitors seeking to reach a broader range of clients in one setting. To exhibit at the fair, participants are to register through the following website: www.po-rtharcourtbookfestival.com.

    The Port Harcourt Book Fair will take place daily from 8am to 6pm for the duration of the festival. Since inception, it has hosted notable publishers like Heinemann, Learn Africa Plc., EEP Books Services and Africana First Publishers. Besides visiting the book fair, festival attendees will be able to participate in a variety of activities such as symposia, children events, drama performances, interactive sessions with existing authors, to name a few.

     

    •Uche is of Rainbow Book Club, Port Harcourt.

  • Dbanj takes Hennessy Artistry to Port Harcourt

    Dbanj takes Hennessy Artistry to Port Harcourt

    IT was a memorable weekend for residents of Port Harcourt, as the Hennessy Artistry 2013 club tour stormed the garden city with some of Nigeria’s biggest superstars.

    The event, which held at the Lamborghini club in GRA, Port Harcourt, was hosted by popular radio personality, Olisa Adibua, and had guests come to witness the Hennessy experience.

    The event kicked off on a high note with energetic performances from fast-rising acts, Pucado and Phyno. Dbanj brought the house down with pulsating performances to thrill the guests with his first live performance of this year’s Artistry theme song. Port Harcourt’s artiste, Burna Boy was also in town to party with Dbanj.

    Dbanj will make his second club appearance in Lagos later in September. The next stop for the Hennessy Artistry club tour this weekend is Club DV8 in Victoria Island, Lagos, and will feature performances from Phyno, Kay Switch and Chidinma.

    The Hennessy Artistry 2013 club tour supporting acts include Olamide, Chidinma, Vector, Pucado, Phyno, Seyi Shay, Show Dem Camp, Kay Switch and Sean Tizzle.

  • Port Harcourt centenary marathon

    Port Harcourt centenary marathon