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Don Likens Okilo To Socrates, Aristotle, Calls For Study Of His Life, Legacy, Times

Published

1 year ago

July 11, 2024

Dr. Anthony Rufus, a lecturer of the Department of Political Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, has called on the government of the state to constitute a study group that will research into the life and times of the first executive governor of Rivers State, late Melford Okilo.

He made the call at the 16th Memorial Day Lecture/ Gala Night in honour of the first executive governor of Rivers State, which held at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

According to Rufus, the essence of the review is for young politicians and the next generations to know more about the legacies of the late Okilo.

“I am of the view that the Bayelsa State Government has interest in a good memory of the SAGE. Therefore, the Bayelsa State government can do a little more by constituting a study group that will study the life and times of Senator Melford Okilo. This will help others to know more about him. It will help other political leaders to emulate his good attributes in governance and make society a better place,” Rufus added.

He noted: “We as the academias, we have studied lots of philosophers, the likes of Socrates, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, CarMax and the rest of them. I think that Senator Melford Obiene Okilo is of the class of people as philosophers. Of course Senator Melford Obiene Okilo was a philosopher.

“He was an academia. For me, it has to do with a system of governance where leaders lead by example and leaving behind legacies that will benefit the generations to come. It is very important to know that we have very important developmental projects and programmes Senator Melford Okilo left behind. They are very visible for us to see”.

He continued: “The point is, if we can study the life of Socrates, and CArMax among others, why can’t we study the life of late Senator Melford Okilo. It is very important to study the life and times of late Senator Melford Okilo. Let’s know what inspired him; let’s know why he did the things he did; his belief system; his key philosophy. Let’s study all of these to help generations to come”.

Rufus stressed that the success of late Senator Melford Okilo cannot just pass away because of the legacies he left behind.

According to him, Okilo was much interested in sustainable development where the benefits of the next generation were not compromised.

“Senator Melford Okilonwas a developmental driver, in Rivers and Bayelsa States. His developmental projects such as electrification, roads, projects and also people that have benefited from his educational scheme have outlived him up till date,” He said.

The lecturer added that the late Okilo was more interested in his legacies than the politics of his pocket.

“He did not practise politics of his pocket, his community and immediate family, all rural communities across the state benefited from his administration. He was a selfless leader, the university lecturer said.

Rufus urged politicians in Bayelsa State and Nigerian in general to emulate and learn from the late Senator Melford Okilo.

“Our politicians should shun corrupt practices and rather write their names in gold that will stand as a legacy than practising a corrupt system that will benefit just themselves and their immediate families. Politicians should see education as a weapon against poverty, against in the quality and against unemployment”.

Some of the political books written by late Senator Melford Okilo include: “Law of Life”. The book discusses some of his philosophies. Another book, titled ‘Nigeria Search for Political Stability.’ The book talks about his contribution to Nigeria stability and the way forward. He also authored, ” Law Create Balance.’

The late Okilo hailed from Emakalakala, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. He was the first Permanent Secretary to the former Prime Minister of Nigeria, the late Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. He was one of those that fought for Nigeria independence and also the creation of Bayelsa State in year 1996. He died in 2008 at the age of 74.

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Trump Birthright Citizenship Order Halted In Class-action Suit

Published

1 day ago

July 10, 2025

Editor

A federal judge on Thursday halted President Donald Trump’s order restricting birthright citizenship, as opponents of the policy pursue a new legal avenue following the US Supreme Court’s overturning of a previous block.

The high court’s conservative majority delivered a landmark decision in late June that limits the ability of individual judges to issue nationwide injunctions against presidents’ policies.

Several such judges had in fact blocked Trump’s attempt to end the longstanding rule, guaranteed in the US Constitution, that anyone born on US soil is automatically an American citizen.

However, the Supreme Court left open the possibility that orders could be blocked via broad class-action suits against the government.

Trump’s opponents quickly filed new class-action suits seeking to block again the executive order.

On Thursday, Judge Joseph Laplante of the US District of New Hampshire granted class-action status to any child who would potentially be denied citizenship under Trump’s order. The judge ordered a preliminary halt to it as legal proceedings carry on.

The judge delayed his ruling for seven days to permit the Trump administration to appeal.

Cody Wofsy, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) who argued the case, called the ruling a “huge victory” that “will help protect the citizenship of all children born in the United States, as the Constitution intended.”

Trump’s executive order decrees that children born to parents in the United States illegally or on temporary visas would not automatically become citizens — a radical reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.

His administration has argued that the 14th Amendment, passed in the wake of the Civil War, addresses the rights of former slaves and not the children of undocumented migrants or temporary US visitors.

The Supreme Court rejected such a narrow definition in a landmark 1898 case.

The current high court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, avoided ruling last month on the constitutionality of Trump’s executive order and only addressed the issue of nationwide injunctions.

It nonetheless permitted the order to go ahead but delayed its ruling from taking effect until late July to allow for new court challenges.

Several lower courts, in issuing their previous injunctions, had ruled that the executive order violated the Constitution.

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PICTORIAL: Two Undocumented Nigerians Arrested For Drug Trafficking In Libya

Published

1 day ago

July 10, 2025

Editor

Libya’s Counter-Terrorism Forces have arrested two undocumented Nigerians over alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

According to a statement shared by Migrant Rescue Watch on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, the suspects were caught with quantities of hashish and hallucinogenic pills, including Tramadol and Lyrica.

Authorities also recovered a large sum of cash suspected to be proceeds from drug sales during the operation.

Following their arrest, the two Nigerians have been handed over to the appropriate legal authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The statement said, “Counter-Terrorism Forces arrested 2 undocumented #migrants of Nigerian nationality for drug trafficking. The individuals were found in possession of hashish, hallucinogenic pills “Tramadol” & “Lyrica” as well as cash from proceeds.

“Both individuals were referred to competent authorities for legal action.”

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31 Workers Escape Death As Tunnel Collapses In Los Angeles

Published

2 days ago

July 10, 2025

Editor

All 31 workers escaped without injuries from a collapsed industrial tunnel in Los Angeles’ Wilmington area, after scrambling over a tall pile of loose underground soil, city officials said late on Wednesday.

The trapped workers were shuttled back to the tunnel’s entry point, more than 5 miles (8 km) away from the affected area, after they escaped the collapsed section and met several coworkers in the unaffected part of the tunnel, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a statement.

The tunnel, which had a diameter of 18 ft (5.5 m), trapped 27 individuals, while four workers entered the damaged section to assist with rescue, LA Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva told reporters in a media briefing.

“The workers had to climb through debris. They had to make themselves out through,” before they were assisted out, Villanueva said.

Robert Ferrante, chief engineer and general manager of Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, told the briefing that a section of the already built part of the tunnel experienced squeezing ground conditions and partially collapsed.

“LAFD has just reported that all workers who were trapped in the tunnel in Wilmington are now out and accounted for. I just spoke with many of the workers who were trapped. Thank you to all of our brave first responders who acted immediately,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a post on X.

The collapsed section was a part of the Los Angeles County’s Clearwater Project, where the new 7-mile tunnel is being built to upgrade the region’s sewer system, officials added.

(Reuters)