Politics
Amaechi Inspects Road Projects
Governor Chibuike
Amaechi commenced last week with projects inspection. On Sunday, he visited the Ogoni/Andoni/Opobo Unity Road where he disclosed that the State Government has released the sum of N1 billion to fasten the pace of work.
He said, “ we have disbursed one billion naria to the contractors to facilitate job on the road. The one billion naira was from the N30 billion we accessed from the savings, and we hope that the contractors will increase the pace of work”.
The governor though said the pace of work was slow due to funding, went on to state that Opobo Town was 6 kilometres from the last bridge that will link Kalaibiama, but with the release of N1 billion, he assured that work would go as expected.
The governor also received students of the University of Port Harcourt who came tops at the just concluded Nigeria University Games (NUGA), and assured them of government support.
He went straight to the state House of Assembly, where he delivered “State of the Nation address.” He argued that the nation’s centenary celebrations was a waste of fund considering the current state of affairs in the country.
Amaechi observed, “sadly as leaders, we must admit the truth which stares us in the face. It is the fact that our country is drifting perceptibly into dangerous waterfall”.
Citing a recent poll conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the governor said, “60 per cent of those polled worried that the current federal administration is doing bad job of fighting corruption, while an overwhelming number wanted to see government address the employment gap by creating more jobs and reducing poverty”.
The governor further emphasised, that, “a country is not simply judged by how long its democratic structures have been up, but by the very substance of those structures and what they represent in the eyes of its people”.
On Tuesday, Governor Amaechi played host to the prelate of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim, Dr Aruba Onyeneolu at Government House. Speaking through his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru, the governor said the church remains the foundation of his administration, hence the government has always looked to God during the time of adversity.
Amaechi insisted that, “God is the determinat of all we have done and the next we will do before we leave office”.
On Wednesday after the weekly state Executive Council meeting, Rt Hon Amaechi took time off to inspect some ongoing projects in the state. After visiting the ongoing Peter Odili, Woji-Akpajo Link Road, he also inspected the ongoing Elioparanwo Road.
At Elioparanwo Road, he said government will leave no abandoned project, while promising to prioritise on delivering state infrastructure. “I’am paid to do this job I’am employed by Rivers people, so I’am bound to deliver. The responsibility of a governor is to deliver on infrastructure, the lives and wellbeing of the citizens and ensure that they have security”.
Also within the week, the governor, paid condolence visit to the family of late Patrick Gbaraba.
He said the late Patrick Gbaraba was a nice gentleman who believed in God and his visit to the bereaved family was to identify, honour and sympathise with them on behalf of his family and the good people of Rivers State.
On Wenesday, the governor played host to House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster. The committee led by Rt Hon Ifedayo Abegunde from Ondo State, was in the state to ascertain the level of damage from last year’s Mile 1 Market fire.
Calling on the committee to carry out its duties judiciously, Rt Hon Amaechi remarked, “I must say that, at different occasions, you have risen to defenc democracy. You have a big assignment, the assignment is not natural but also man made disasters.”
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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