Politics
Amaechi To Admit Boko Haram Victims In State Schools
Last weekend, during the Easter celebrations, Governor
Chibuike Amaechi sued for peace and peaceful co-existence to commemorate the death and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, saying the season should be used for sober reflections. The governor was represented by his wife, Dame Judith Amaechi at various occasions during the Easter period.
Also last week, Dame Amaechi and the Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru were among dignitaries who attended a special dedication service of the land of Ikuru to God.
General Superintendent of Redemption Ministries, Rev. Stephen Akinola prayed for the ancient town. The governor’s wife later took an excursion along the beautiful Ikuru beach.
She later attended the womanhood ceremony of the wife of the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Gogo Levi Charles, saying women deserve to be honoured. She thanked the commissioner for honouring his wife in a grand style. According to her, such honour attracts God’s blessings and grace.
Her Excellency also attended the Womanhood Ceremony of Mrs Grace Sam Jaja at Opobo in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of the state.
Also during the week under review, Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibi, Semenitari wasat Opobo Town for a special womanhood ceremony sponsored by wife of former Deputy Governor of the state, Dame Christy Toby. About 10 maidens participated in the Bibite and Egerebite ceremonies held in Chief Toby’s compound in the ancient town.
Returning to the state on Tuesday, Governor Chibuike Amaechi visited Abonnema Town, headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, where he commissioned a 15KVA power generating line and Owukori Memorial Hall, including the Chibuike Amaechi Ultra-Modern Market constructed by the Chairman of the council, Theodore Georgewill.
The governor later visited the Amayanabo of Abonnema, HRH Gbobo Disrael. During the visit, he addressed the people of the area and promised to embark on a new sand-filling project and completion of abandoned projects in the area.
On Wednesday, the governor together with former Head of State, Gen Abdusalami Abubakar, the Nobel Laureatte, Prof. Wole Soyinka; former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili and representative of President Jonathan, Mrs Omolara Woods flagged off the World Book Capital in Port Harcourt.
Gen. Abubakar said the ceremony was momentous and has brought pride to the country. He, therefore, enjoined the organisers to ensure that all activities slated meet expectations of a Book Capital, as he enjoined Nigerians to work for peace and unity of the country.
In the same vein, Prof Wole Soyinka used the ceremony to call for a concerted efforts towards ending the menace of Boko Haram in the country. On his part, Governor Amaechi, while thanking God for the success, called for an urgent need to reverse the economic decline and leap from development by bringing back the book. He also promised to admit young girls who were abducted by Islamic fundamentalists in Borno State in the model secondary schools built across the state.
Non-indigenes in the state who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) paid a solidarity visit to the Governor in Government House. The group under the banner of Non-indigenes Political Forum of APC, led by Chief Williams Ubaka, described Rt Hon Amaechi as the best governor ever produced in Rivers State and Nigeria. They also thanked him for “the uncommon transformation which his leadership has brought to the state.”
On Friday, Head of the United States Bureau of Conflict and Stabilisation, Operations and the Assistant Secretary of States, Rick Barton together with the US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle paid a courtesy visit to the governor. They intimated the governor that, they were in the state to promote a special programme to train youths in film production.
Mr Barton who expressed concern for a peaceful political transition in the country, assured that the USA was ready to offer assistance in ensuring the development of the country.
On Saturday, they governor was represented by his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru at the Airport to welcome the President who was enroute Bayelsa State. The deputy governor later participated in the state congress of the APC at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, where the APC State congress produced new substantive executive led by Chief Ibiamu Ikanya.
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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