Politics
Amaechi Tasks Traditional Rulers On Ebola
The onslaught on Ebola virus scourge dominated most
part of activities in government house last week. Governor Chibuike Amaechi had a week before visited the Ebola Isolation Centre at Oduoha in Emohua Local Government Area before travelling for official duties outside the state.
On returning to the state on Tuesday in Port Harcourt he spoke to newsmen at the airport during which he enumerated various steps taken by government to check the menace of Ebola disease. He assured that the state government was on top of the situation and is bent on expending resources to bring the disease under control.
Shortly after arriving Governor Amaechi played host to World Health Organisation (WHO) officials led by country Representative, Rui Vaz at Government House, Port Harcourt while welcoming the WHO representative, Governor Amaechi disclosed that the state government has approved N300 million to the Ministry of Health to combat the scourge.
He, however, admitted that the money will not be enough, but promised to release more fund to make sure logistics and equipment are provided for the medical team to achieve success.
Governor Amaechi on Wednesday presided over the monthly Inter Governmental meeting during which policies and programme and discussed. Few hours after the inter-governmental meeting. Amaechi played host to religious and traditional leaders in the state to sensitise them on the Ebola Virus outbreak.
The governor called on over 1,000 religious and traditional rulers to assist government in the fight against Ebola.
The governor said, “We are discouraging people who have Ebola from going to church. You know why? Church is a place that you have a large crowd of people. If you touch one person or two persons, you are contaminating the environment and the people, and they get infected. If you suspect, don’t stigmatise them, called the Ebola line, will come there”.
He also urged religious leaders to preach about the disease in their churches and mosques, as well as traditional rulers in their various communities. He urged them to encourage those under them to imbibe healthy living styles, and wash their hands regularly.
Early in the week however, the All Progressives Congress (APC) lashed at those behind the molestation and arrest of Caretaker Chairman of Omuma Local Government Area, Hon. Emeka Wogu. He briefed newsmen in Government House on Sunday last week.
He was arrested a week ago by men of Swift Armed Robbery (SARS) team at his house for allegedly ordering a police orderly to shoot at the a banner carrying the picture of President Goodluck Jonathan.
State Publicity Secretary of APC, Chris Finebone said the arrest and detention of Hon. Wogu was orchestrated and planned by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain’s in Omuma led by Kelechi Wogu, a member of the State House of Assembly.
Mr. Finebone said members of the APC have become “endangered Species” because they are supporters of Governor Amaechi and vowed that the party will not be cowed by the antics of the PDP.
Hon. Wogu informed government house reporters that he is consulting with his lawyers on the next step to take in order to get redress, maintaining that no amount of intimidation will stop him from giving good governance to the people.
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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