TheGlobewindows

Written Elfredah Kevin Elfredah Kevin in an exclusive interview with the Rivers state TB program manager, Dr. Victor Oris in Port Harcourt, Nigeria Globally, every January 27 has always been observed as World Leprosy Day.  Over time, people believed that Leprosy is a  spiritual  attack, referring to what happened in the Bible. To this day, Persons affected with Leprosy have been stigmatized, discriminated from living a normal life like others. They are not given job, they are not even allowed to vote. According to Health practitioners, leprosy also known as Hansen's disease, is caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae )bacteria. In 2017 Florida reports 16 confirmed leprosy cases. According to a published report on outbreak of Leprosy, after reporting 29 and 18 leprosy cases, in 2015 and 2016, respectively, Florida health officials reported 16 confirmed leprosy, or Hansen’s disease cases in 2017 World Health Organization report that the global registered prevalence of lep...

Written by Elfredah Kevin The International Federation of Journalists says 7 journalist and media staff working for local television NRT were attacked and detained for several hours on January 26, saturday, while covering protest against a Turkish military base in the town of Shaladze, located in Iraq's Kurdish region. According to the statement released on January 29th from Brussels, stated that the equipments were confiscated and the office of the NRT  in Duhok city was shutdown. The IFJ joins the Kurdistan journalists syndicate in condemning the attack and in demanding the authorities respect freedom of information in the region The statement further stated that the event took place during the protests against Turkish shelling that resulted in  5 casualties and many injured, adding that, NRT reporter that protestees assaulted the Turkish base, “setting fire to watchtowers and standing on tanks” and that at least one person died. The KJS said in ...

Published by Elfredah Kevin Those 800,000 federal workers impacted by the shutdown are back at work. But the threat of another shutdown looms. Democrats and Republicans have three weeks to hammer out  some kind of deal on border security   before funding from the short-term spending legislation runs out.  President Trump said if there's no money allocated for his border wall he's willing to endure another shutdown or  declare a national emergency  so that he can use Defense Department funds to build the wall.  But, n either option is particularly attractive  for the President, after  getting nothing  in the record-breaking shutdown that just ended, Trump's GOP allies  may be less likely  to go down that path again.  And declaring a national emergency would spark a constitutional battle that could be tied up in the courts for months. NBC review on US Shutdown

Written by Elfredah Kevin Ahead of this year's poll, the United States of America has declared that it is not supporting any candidate in the forthcoming elections in Nigeria.  The US Consul General,  John Braide, stated this yesterday, when he spoke at a 'Vote not Fight' sensitization campaign, Peace Concert held in Port Harcourt, organized by the non governmental organizations; Youngstars Foundation and Media Awareness and Justice Initiative (MAJI) Braide described Nigerians as lucky people and advised the electorate to use their Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs) to elect credible leaders on February 16 and March 2, elections.   "We are not here (in Nigeria) to support any candidate.  We are here to support free,  fair,  credible and transparent election in Nigeria. Election is not war".  On his address,  Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr.  Obo Effanga, declare...

Published by  Elfredah Kevin      The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) rejects outrightly the new National Minimum wage of N27, 000 as recommended by the National Council of State, the fact that the federal government agrees to pay N30,000 notwithstanding. In a statement signed by the president, Dr. Bobboi Bala Kaigama  and the secretary General, Barr. Musa-Lawal OZIGI said, the Council of State decision though advisory in nature is weighty and may give semblance of authority to the decision, adding the decision must not be allowed to stand because it will set a wrong precedence for the future, giving example of after a statutory bodies have done their jobs, Council of State will now sit to review it.  Let it be known that N30,000 minimum wage is a product of negotiation, not legislation, not advise and not a decree. Minimum wage issue therefore, is moving to a new theatre, the National Assembly. We expect the representative of t...

Published by Kevin Woke Photo credit: Channels.  President Muhammadu Buhari and former heads of state at the National Council of State Meeting on Tuesday… January 22, 2019. The National Economic Council (NEC) approves National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) to curbing the clashes between farmers and herders in the country.  This is even as it is targeting to use the plan to attract N2 trillion into the country’s livestock sector.  Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting presided over by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, the Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, said the approval followed a memo presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh. The governor reiterated that the council noted the importance of livestock as an integral economic activity and emphasized that the plan was designed to enable leading agric business emerge top in the livestock sector as in the farming sector.   “NLTP has been with the ECOWAS Heads of ...

Written by Kevin Woke The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) have expressed worries over the delay in payment of the harmonised salaries of its members of the Ignitius Ajuru University of Education by the Rivers State Government. This issue is coming for the third time in less than three months. The Eastern Zone National Vice Chairman of SSANU, ADOR LEKU  in an interview shortly after an interactive session with its members held at the school premises in Port Harcourt, says the union is pained the way their members are treated, comparing to other universities in the state, adding that the issue is now a taking up by national. ''We are more than bordered, because it has happened to federal universities before. We met the VC, we expressed it to him, that, it is terrible, that the entire universities in state, it is Ignitius Ajuru Universities of Education that is left out, and this is a big welfare issue. The task is heavy on the amputated salary, No...

Published by Kevin Woke Nigerian Students Poetry Prize (NSPP) is an initiative of Poets in Nigeria (PIN) aimed at stimulating literary creativity, promoting literary excellence and encouraging critical thinking among Nigerian undergraduates. Since inception in 2016 at the University of Ibadan, the prize has received over 1500 entries from students representing over 100 tertiary institutions (including universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, schools of nursing and seminary schools). Reputed to be the foremost poetry prize for Nigerian students, the NSPP has been hosted by institutions such as University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2017) and Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu (2018). As host of the fourth edition of the prize, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Yenagoa, will be the venue for the NSPP awards ceremony slated for mid-2019. Previous grand prize winners of the prize include Noah Oladele (Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; 2016), Bakre Fadil Adedamola (Univ...

Published by  Kevin Woke The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Rivers State command, says it has successfully convicted a Total of 28 drug offenders at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt in the year 2018. According to the statement circulated by the command Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ogbumgbada,CSN,  also disclosed that the  command arrested 210 drug suspects comprising 177 males and 33 females with a total seizure  of 276.497kg of hard drugs as well as psychotropic substances such as cocaine, heroin, cannabis sativa, Tramadol, codeine, rohipnol, diazapam and several other illegal substances. In the same period, 28 drug dependent persons comprising 26 males and 2 females were successfully rehabilitated in the Command's makeshift rehabilitation centre and discharged back to their families. The statement further stated that the State Commander, Amb. Rachael  Shelleng  in a strong term warned drug dealers to ...

Published by Kevin Woke Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar has apologised for not participating in the presidential debate. According to his facebook message,  The PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar said, the absence was as a result of the absence of President Buhari. See below full message from Atiku Extract:  It happened that the former Vice President of Nigeria actually showed up at the venue of the debate and was getting ready to mount the podium but withdrew at the last minute after it became obvious that President Buhari will not attend the debate. Extract: We came for a Presidential debate, not a candidacy debate, and I, Atiku Abubakar cannot challenge or question an administration where the man at the helm of the affairs of the nation is not present to defend himself or his policies. After all, you cannot shave a man's head in his absence. I do not believe in attacking a man who is NOT here to defend himself. As a leader and former vice...

Published by  Kevin Woke  Below is a statement released by APC presidential campaign council on the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari during the Presidential Debate organized by The Nigeria Election Debate Group and the Broadcasting Organization of On Nigeria. Extract: The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is also the APC Presidential Candidate in the forthcoming Presidential Election, President Muhammadu Buhari, could not attend the Presidential Debate  aaorganised by the Nigeria Election Debate Group and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria which held today, Saturday, January 19, 2019 for the following reasons: Firstly, out of several opportunities afforded our candidate to interact with the Nigerian people directly by different organisations, our presidential candidate has taken full advantage of another town-hall meeting organized by another group which held on Wednesday, January 1...

Published by Kevin Woke The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has expressed the optimism that the governorship and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State will be on the ballot in the 2019 general election. Speaking to journalists on arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Port Harcourt, Saturday, Dr. Dakuku Peterside said that the challenge the APC in the state is experiencing is temporary and will soon be a thing of the past. “I am very confident that APC governorship and other candidates will be on the 2019 election ballot.  I know that the judiciary is an important component of the political process. You can’t talk about politics without talking about the judiciary or the role of the judiciary. So, my confidence is that ultimately this issue will be resolved, APC candidates will be on the ballot and run the election. And Rivers people will have opti...

Written by Kevin Woke Few weeks to the general elections in the country, the National Orientation Agency has taken  its motorized  campaign against vote buying, voided vote and violent elections to major markets in Rivers State. And our correspondent report that the officials of the NOA visited the slaughter market, Amadi-Ama Market, Plaza market, Mile one market and several other markets in the state, sensitizing the public against vote buying, vote selling, voided vote as well as  violent elections. Speaking to TheGlobewindows, the Rivers State Acting Director, YOUNG AYO-TAMUNO, says the campaign is part of the NOA strategy to sensitize traders  on the importance of voting rightly and peaceful elections. YOUNG AYO-TAMUNO however appealed to  traders to desist from vote buying and vote selling, adding that, the implications is selling your rights, thereby paving way to bad governance.

Written by Elfredah Kevin Access to credible information has been identified as very crucial for the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general election in the country. This was the view of participants at a town hall meeting on Freedom of Information Act and Open Government Partnership in ensuring peaceful, transparent and credible 2019 General election, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Our Correspondent reports that the town hall meeting which was organised by the National Orientation Agency NOA, had in attendance, participants from various organizations, including the security agencies. Acting State Dir. Young Ayo-Tamuno Earlier on his welcome address, the Acting state Director of National Orientation Agency, YOUNG AYO-TAMUNO, stresses that, the NOA is always committed to ensuring a free, fair and credible elections in forth coming elections. YOUNG AYO-TAMUNO further stated that citizens participation is one of the fundamental principles of democracy,...

Written by  Woke Kevin Old women and Men of Ikwere and Etche Ethnic nationality joined angry youth under the aegis of Ikwere and Etche Unity Forum to disrupt business activities in  SIAT NIGERIA LIMITED at Ubima in Ikwere Local Government Area. And our correspondent  report that more than one 500  youth blocked the Entrance gate to the company demanding for their rights. The angry youth  forced their way inside the entrance gate when restricted by the company's security officers, with different inscriptions on  placards, we want our rights, we need scholarship, we want our people to be staff, we employment. After much singing and calling on the management of SIAT, officials of SIAT invited the leaders for discussion, and later reached an agreement. Cross section of President General of the group, Gideon Isaac Okpaka addressing them after the discussion with the management of SIAT NIGERIA limited Some of the local government coordina...

Published by Elfredah Kevin IPC Director, Lanre Arogundade The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria, condemns in very strong terms the brutal killing of Ghanaian undercover Journalist - Ahmed Husein. In a statement signed by the IPC Director, LANRE AROGUNDADE, referred to media reports, that Husein was shot by gunmen on a motorbike on Wednesday night while in his car driving home.  He was reportedly shot three times, twice in the chest and another in the neck. Prior to his death, Husein had previously made a complaint to police after a Ghanaian lawmaker, Kennedy Agyapong, showed his photograph on a private television channel. He promised payment for supporters who took retribution against Husein.  However, there were no measures to protect him. The statement dated January 17, 2019 revealed that IPC is aware that the Ghanaian Police is currently at work gathering information on the case, according to a statement from the director of the crimin...

Published by  Elfredah Kevin A Nigerian man has died a day to his wedding.  A Facebook user posted on his timeline the picture of the dead man and his wife to be. According to our source, the cause of the death is still known. 'Nigerian man dies a day to his white wedding. His supposed wedding day turned out to be his burial day. The cause of his death is yet to be ascertain as at the time of this report'. See pictures below:                

Written by Elfredah Kevin Cross section of Total officials & Ali United, winner, 2018 OML58 football competition. Total E&P Nigeria Limited has awarded the sum of 500,000 to Ali United of Elele Alimini for winning the 16th annual  Edition of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Total E&P Nigeria OML 58 football competition for host communities in Rivers state. Twenty four communities participated in the competiton, while Obite community in Ogba/Egbema Local Government Area and Elele Alimini in Ikwere Local Government Area of Rivers State succeeded to finals. Our correspondent report that the football competition took place on a  neutral ground, at Western Ahoada County Grammar school, in Ahoada west Local Government Area of Rivers State. Cross section of Okechukwu OBARA during his opening remarks On his opening remarks, the  Deputy Managing  Director, Port Harcourt District, MR. FRANCOIS LE-COCQ, expressed best wishes to the...

Written by  Elfredah Kevin Photo credit: LialasNews.  Sammy in his pool of blood Few months after the killing of two Jovit (FastFood) workers, identified as Divine and Progress, alongside a DVD seller at Alakahia, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital gates, Rivers state, another man identified as Sammy has been reportedly shot dead at a drinking joint at Ogbunabali Community in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, of Rivers State According to sources, the incidents occurred on Saturday at a drinking joint by gunmen at range rover, leaving him in a pool of blood and immediately fled. Meanwhile, the cause of the attack is till yet unknown. Residents now leave in fear, as some speculation for another attack.

Published by Woke Kevin In an unprecedented move, the Federal Government, has slammed a six-count criminal charge against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, over his alleged refusal to declare his assets. Justice Walter Onnoghen and President Buhari Aside allegation that he failed to disclose his assets as prescribed by law, FG, in the charge that was filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, equally accused the CJN of operating foreign back accounts. The prosecuting agency alleged that contrary to relevant laws regulating conduct of public office holders, the CJN, maintained a domiciliary foreign currencies account that comprised of Dollars Account, Pound Sterling Account and Euro Account. Already, FG has concluded plans to dock the CJN before the Justice Danladi Umar’s led Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, in Abuja, on Monday, even as it has prepared a motion for the tribunal to compel him to vacate his office to concentrate on clearing...

By Elfredah Kevin Photo Credit:IPC.  IPC Dir. Lanre Arogundade The constant harassment of Journalists in Nigeria in recent time, has been a major concern for the International Press Centre Lagos. The International Press Centre, Lagos is demanding for the immediate release of YINKA BADMUS, a photojournalist with Talk Village International in Lagos. The Director of International Press Centre, Lagos, LANRE AROGUNDADE, in a statement said it was unconstitutional for BADMUS to have been detained for  many days before he was eventually arraigned and remanded  on the orders of an Ogudu Magistrate  Court, Lagos. According to the statement signed by the Program Manager, STELLA NWOFIA, referring to the report of Vanguard Newspaper dated January 11th, 2019, said BADMUS, 24 was arrested on New Year eve by policemen attached to the Lagos State Anti-Cultism unit for wearing dreadlocks, which the officers allegedly said made him look like a cultist while eating nood...

Published by Elfredah Kevin The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has vowed  not to call off the ongoing strike until the Federal Government fulfils all the agreement both parties reached in their last meeting. ASUU further stated that the Union is tired of Federal Government’s antics of making unfulfilled promises. The lecturers insisted that the strike would be called off only if they got tangible evidence and concrete actions that the offers made to them by the Federal Government had been implemented. The National President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, stated this in an interview with journalists  in Lagos on Thursday. When asked when the strike would be called off, the ASUU President said, “Our members said they want to see evidence of satisfactory implementation of all they have proposed before the strike can be called off.” On Tuesday, ASUU met with the Federal Government officials including the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, as well as...

Woke Kevin State Acting Dir. of NOA, Young AYO-TAMUNO The National Orientation Agency says it is set to hold a stakeholders town hall meeting ahead of 2019 general elections The Rivers State Acting Director of National Orientation Agency AYO-TAMUNO made the disclosure to newsmen shortly after an interactive session with Public Complain commission on the readiness for both Agencies to sensitize the people on conflict resolution for a better society.  AYO-TAMUNO further explained that the stakeholders town hall meeting is scheduled to hold on January 16, 2019,  at the state NOA temporary office in Port Harcourt, adding that, the meeting comprises of security agencies, heads of ministry Department and Agencies (MDA), INEC,  civil  society organizations, faith based organizations, youth bodies, media practitioners, Labour/Trade Unions, Students, Social media Activists as key participants. On his part, The Federal Commissioner, Public Compl...

Written by  Woke Kevin Still on plans for peaceful 2019 general elections, stakeholders drawn from different communities in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, have met in Port Harcourt, seeking ways to reduce violent conflict in the communities.  Our correspondent  report that the one day town hall meeting themed; Election, Peace and Development  was organized Academic Associate PeaceWorks, funded by Foundation for Partnership in the Niger Delta (PIND), which brought together traditional rulers, religious heads, security agencies, representative of Independent National Electoral Commission, and youths to seek possible ways to reduce violence during elections. HM, KING LESLIE during his presentation Addressing participants, King of Evo Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers state, Eze Oha Evo III, Amb. sir, LESLIE NYEBUCHI EKE, identified  rigging, marginalization, unemployment and abuse of political parties are some factors causing el...

Written by  Woke Kevin Some youth in Andoni local government area, under the aegis of Obolo Community Youth Leaders council are lamenting of the lack of government present in Obolo land.  The youth while speaking in their Annual Convention held in Agwut Obolo Town, in Andoni Local Government says, no basic amenities to show for in the community. Speaking to TheGlobewindows, the president of the Obolo Community Youth Council, AMINI CLIFFORD MOSES, lamented that Obolo land lacks meaningful infrastructure that will benefit the people 'Today, Obolo land can not boost of any meaningful infrastructure, we are yet to have internal road, yet to be connected to internal grade, we cannot have basic amenities that can make our live meaningful. No bank, no tertiary institutions, nothing to point out that we are part of civilized existence'. One of the youth members, MONDAY DENBASI also wonder why Andoni will suffer despise that, it is one of the oil producing area in Rivers S...

Published by Elfredah Kevin The Nigeria Labour Congress fulfilled its threat to protest on a Nationwide protest. All over Nigeria, Labour Leaders protesters in their various states demanding for the 30,000 minimum wage. In Abuja, Dozens of protesters led by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, protested with other Union members from the Labour House to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) premises, with different placards with inscription like; No pay, No vote, Let politicans be placed on minimum wages, government should emulate organized private sectors and others. Addressing Journalists and labour leaders, Ayuba Wabba said the union had been patient over the years but can no longer tolerate the government’s action over the minimum wage, urging  state governors to stop hiding under the umbrella of the governor’s forum to refuse to pay the proposed new wage. ”The Nigerian minimum wage of N18,000 is no more tenable, we have been patient and considera...