Politics
Rivers’ COVID-19-Free Status Excites Wike
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has expressed excitment over the treatment and discharge of the first two coronavirus cases in the state.
In a State Broadcast Saturday, Gov Wike said: “Following the treatmemt and discharge of the second case in our treatment centre, I am very delighted to announce that there is presently no single case of the presence of coronavirus in our state.
“This is real good news we must all celebrate and thank the Almighty God for answering our prayers and shielding our state from the dreadful epidemic, which has caused so much death and untold human misery across the world”
The State Chief Executive stated that even though the state has no case for now, it will continue to work hard to ensure that the people are protected from the virus.
Stressing that it was not yet Uhuru, Governor Wike said,” we must therefore not be tempted or pressured to lower our safeguards until the threat is eradicated and we are totally and completely safe and free from this pandemic”.
He appealed that while the state Government was doing its best, citizens must not relent in their own responsibility to keep the virus away from the state .
The Governor announced a total lockdown of parts of Port Harcourt, the state capital for lack of compliance with the order on shutting business activities by some residents of the areas.
Among the areas affected by the lockdown order as announced in the broadcast were: Creek Road including Prison Junction, Nembe Water Front, Cultural Center, Yam Zone and Ahoada Street all in Old Port Harcourt Township Area.
In Diobu Area, affected areas include Education Bus Stop, Kalabari by Udi Street, Afikpo Street, Gambia Street, the entire Ikoku Spare Parts Zone, Rivers State University Round About, and Abali Park, under the Flyover, (both descending and ascending).
He explained that the State Government was constrained to place the areas under total and complete lockdown because carrying on unrestrained business activities in the areas would endanger the lives of the people of the state.
He remarked that though the measures were painful, the remained the right steps to take to check the spread of the coronavirus in our dear state.
The Governor said the State Government was monitoring the level of compliance to restriction on Social gathering in all the 23 local government areas in the state and threatened to take appropriate measures against communities not adhering to the order on social distancing.
Also last week, the Rivers State Governor commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari over the death of his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari who died recently of COVID-19 related complications.
Wike described the late Kyari as a patriot, trustworthy, humble and caring leader who contributed immensely to the development of the country.
Encommiums continued to pour on the Rivers State Governor following the proactive steps taken to check the spread of coronavirus in the state, with the Nigerian Liquifeid Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) hailing the Governor for actions taken to protect the people of the state.
General Manager, Corporate Services, of NLNG, Sir Joseph Alagoa said the governor had done well in the fight against coronavirus.
He made the commendation last Friday at the presentation of palliatives for Rivers people to the state Government.
In a similar manner, the Rivers and Bayelsa States Chapter of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) also applauded the Rivers State Governor for taking the right steps in the fight against coronavirus.
Chairman of the Chapter, Senator Adawari People, said “So far, all the steps that have been taken by the Rivers State Governor have been very positive.
“We are glad to note that we have not recorded more incidents than what we have.
“Even those who were declared positive have now been treated and they are negative. This is worth celebrating”.
MAN also made donation to the people of the state through the Rivers State Government.
Another major event in Government House Port Harcourt last week was the release of the 22 Exxon Mobile Staff arrested for entering Rivers State from Akwa Ibom State in violation of the Executive Order by the governor.
Attorney -General and Commissioner of Justice, Prof Zaacheaus Adango, said the 22 company Staff were officially released without charges yesterday.
Chris Oluoh
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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