Politics
Amaechi Faults Wike’s Claim On Monorail
Activities in Government House last week were calm as
the All Progressive Congress (APC) membership registration exercise occupied most part of the week.
On Monday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. David Iyofor debunked claims made by the Supervising Minister for Education on the on-going Monorail project. Iyofor said the minister distorted facts and lied when he spoke in a Monday morning television station in channels TV.
He said contrary to Wike’s claim that nothing was happening at the Rivers Monorail, work was going on even at the time he spoke to journalists at the project site .
In the word of the Governor’s media aide, “it’s something that all can see, I mean anybody that drives through Azikiwe road could see that work is on-going, work has been on-going on this project and Wike can come on National television and lie pointedly that nothing is happening at the Rivers monorail.”
Mr. Iyofor also refuted Wike’s claim that Governor Amaechi did not make him Minister in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, recalling that Governor Amaechi pleaded with President Jonathan for Wike to be accepted as a ministerial nominee.
On Tuesday, Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru who is also the chairman of the Port Harcourt Book Capital Committee handed over cheques to property owners whose buildings were acquired for the new eight libraries to be built across the State capital.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in his office, Evangelist Edmund Oloko, Engr. Ikuru stated that the acquisition of the properties is “aimed at impacting positively on our children’s reading habit by providing them with functional libraries where they could go, read and enhance their knowledge base”.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning, Chief Lawson Ikuru said that his ministry has been mandated to take possession of the acquired properties within the agreed one week interval to enable the government carry out the project.
As part of celebrations to mark the World Cancer day on Tuesday, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker addressed the citizenry and urged them to be cautious on their lifestyle.
Dr. Parker revealed that the State Government has commenced early detection and screening centres in the State. He urged them to make use of the numerous health facilities across the State.
As part of activities to mobilize the citizenry for the on-going APC’s membership registration exercise, the Chief of staff, Government House, Sir Tony Okocha embarked on a monitoring exercise on Thursday in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
Shortly after registering at ward 12 in Rumuomoi, Sir Okocha said he was impressed at the turn out of party faithful “So far, the exercise is a success and this is an indication that the people have embraced change. Change is very difficult thing to attune, especially when you are on the other side. But naturally from what we know is that change must necessarily come. It’s only thing that s permanent”, Sir Okocha said.
He expressed hope that out of the 490,000 registered voters in Obio/Akpor, “I am very sure the two-third of those who will be voting will be voting APC”.
On Friday, after the Supreme Court judgement on a marathon case between Sir Omehia and Rt. Hon. Amaechi on tenure elongation, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Iyofor said there was no “victor or vanquished” in the matter, even if Omehia lost.
The governor’s spokesman said the apex court ruling provides a new opportunity for everyone to join hands with Amaechi’s administration in the development of Rivers State and the advancement of Rivers people. The Supreme Court had struck Sir Omehia out of the case.
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.
-
News2 days agoRSG Targets Nine Million Residents in Mosquito Net Distribution Campaign
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoAiyedatiwa Signs New Electricity Bill
-
Maritime2 days agoMarine Minister Commends President Tinubu On NPERA Bill Assent
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoNLNG Commissions Research And Innovation Centre In RSU
-
News2 days agoKenPoly Holds Eight Convocations, August 29
-
News2 days agoRSG Begins Another Phase of Projects Commissioning Today
-
News2 days agoRMAFC Completes Revenue Sharing Review, Proposes New Pay
-
Maritime2 days agoNAGAFF Petitions IGP Over Alleged Maritime Police Harassment