Politics
Amaechi Urges Military To Remain Neutral
Political activities and celebration of Christmas on the political angle, the week began with the Save Rivers Movement rally attended by political heavy weights in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The likes of Rtd Major-General Buhari, Chief Tom Ikimi, Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande were at the Liberation Stadium last Mondayto commend the people of Rivers who have joined their governor into the APC.
Former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the state will not regret joining the APC. Gen. Buhari also said, “I congratulate the people of Rivers state for coming behind the governor for standing for APC”.
Later on Chief Tom Ikimi together with Chief Akande presented party flags to the ‘Interim Executive Council of the APC in the state. The state Exco of the party is led by Chief Davies Ibiama Ikanya.
Governor Amaechi remarked that APC has come to stay in Rivers with the mandate to change the atrocities of the past.
“The metaphor of the brooms is that it sweeps and sweeps clean”, he said.
Last Tuesday, Governor Amaechi unveiled the 2014 Armed Forces Emblem Appeal Launching in Port Harcourt.
He enjoined the military to always remain neutral and not take sides in the current struggle by politicians for 2015.
He also called on the Nigerian Police to remain neutral in the current political situation in the country. Amaechi lamented the absence of good leadership and of security, water, power, health and other essential needs of the Nigerian people.
Also last week, Wife of Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Mina Ikuru called on married couples to put their trust in God. She spoke penultimate Saturday in Lagos at the wedding of Mr. Samuel Ogbeiwi.
On Christmas Day, Governor Amaechi and his wife attended a church Service at St. Vincent De Paul catholic Church and recounted the ordeal the state was facing from political enemies of the state.
In his words, “As a government led by me, a government installed by Christ, if anybody tells you he installed me, tell him it’s a lie, tell him that I said I prayed for 10 months and I fasted from 6am – 6pm, calling on Christ to come down and Christ came down mightily and installed me as a governor”.
Shortly after attending Christmas Church Service with her husband, Dame Judith Amaechi visited the Orphanage Homes, and charge Nigerians to renew their love and cater for the well being of less privileged children.
Describing Christmas as a time to show love, the Rivers First Lady stressed that Nigerians must learn to emulate Christ whose birth symbolizes redemption for mankind, she also vowed to ensure that children are given their pride of place in the policy thrust of Governor Amaechi administration.
Also last week, Governor Amaechi played host to lawyers under the umbrella of Nigerian Bar Association. But last Friday he hosted journalists in Rivers state. He said the crisis rocking in the state stems from a attempt by the wife of the President to governor Rivers state from Abuja.
“The wife of the President wanted to macro-manage governance in Rivers State and I said no, you cannot. I was elected. If I fail, they will not say the wife of the President failed”.
Amaechi also lampooned the Federal government for playing politics with Rivers State development”, … tell me one thing that Rivers State has gained from being part of the South-South under Goodluck Jonathan Presidency”.
On Saturday, Governor Amaechi commissioned the 8,000 sitting capacity Gokana Central Stadium complex in Gokana Local Government Area of the state.
He congratulated the council Chairman, Hon. Demua Ledee Demna and his predecessor, the current state Commissioner for Works, Hon. Victor Giadom for initiating and completing the project.
Super eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi and representative of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, and former green Eagles Skipper, Segun Odegbami, who commended Rivers state for setting another example for the rest of the country.
While in Gokana, Governor Amaechi also paid a courtesy call on King Barnabas Pagia, the Gberemene of Gokana at his palace. He also sympathized with the people of Bodo City over the demise of their monarch, late HRH, Felix Beredon.
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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