Politics
Jonathan Disappoints S’South – Amaechi
Last week began on a thanksgiving note, as
the State Government held its annual Thanksgiving Day Service at the Dr Obi Wali International Convention Centre in Port Harcourt.
Governor Chibuike Amaechi took time off from APC Presidential campaign to attend the State thanksgiving day. He thanked God for being with his administration from inception in 2007.
The governor said, “I want to be part of the prayers of thanksgiving to God Almighty as the end of my administration draws closer, I must say emphatically that, God has been very kind to Rivers people and I think we need to give Him thanks through this devotional service. I therefore, call on all Rivers people and residents to join us and be grateful to God for all He has done for the state.”
He used the thanksgiving service to assure the citizenry and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the party is on course to take over governance at the federal level come May 29th, 2015.
In his words, “We are on course to move PDP out of office in the upcoming 2015 elections. This is because, we need to ask ourselves why PDP is asking for the postponement of the elections? PDP has also gone ahead to ask the Editors of various national newspapers and other media houses to start heating up the political system that will warrant the postponement of the 2015 February elections”.
On Thursday, Governor Amaechi replied to President Jonathan’s admission that he has not done anything for the South-South region. The governor spoke in Benin city during the APC presidential rally in Edo State.
He lampowed the President for admitting failure in developing the South-South region and Rivers State in particular, adding that the PDP has not impacted positively on the people.
Amaechi said, “My people, President Goodluck Jonathan came to Rivers State on Wednesday and admitted that, he (Jonathan) has failed in his responsibility to the people of the region. Is that not enough to tell him to go home and rest? After six years, there is nothing to show our people that this is what our President Goodluck Jonathan had done for us, haba!
He continued, “This our brother, President Goodluck Jonathan is telling our Rivers State people that I will do this, I will do that and after six years, haba! For me and my brother, Adams Oshiomole, what we tell our people is what we have done, not I will do.
The Rivers State Chapter of the APC had earlier made a similar statement picking holes in President Jonathan’s statement saying it has vindicated Amaechi’s earlier challenge to the presidency for deliberate neglect of the state.
The APC also condemned the PDP for hiring crowd during the Presidential rally in Port Harcourt last Wednesday, describing it as deceitful and not benefitting to the presidency.
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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