Politics
Wike Gets Best Governor Award
Inspection of State public schools which opened for 2016/
2017 academic year by the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kaniye Ebeku was the curtain raiser last week in Government House.
Prof. Kaniye took a tour of public primary schools in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas last Monday.
He confirmed that, “all our public schools have been reopened. The teachers and pupils are in their respective schools”.
At all the schools visited, the Commissioner had interactions with the pupils and their teachers. Some of the primry schools visited include: State Primary Township Schools 1 and 2, Moscow Road, Centenary Primary School, Port Harcourt and St. Andrews Primary Schools 1,2,3 and 4 in Port Harcourt.
On the same last Monday, the deputy governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo represented Chief Nyesom Wike at the 6th International Christian Business Exhibition and Conference organized by the Marketplace Apostles Empowerment Foundation in Port Harcourt.
He underscored the need to redirect energies of young people towards self reliance and entrepreneurship. He said, “following the country’s economic recession today, many Nigerians have lost their jobs in the banking, oil and other sectors of the economy and many others are unemployed”.
Last Tuesday witnessed the hosting of representatives of Korokoro Community in Tai Local Government Area by the deputy governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo. Represented by a member of Rivers State Boundary Committee, Chief Silas Eneyo, the deputy governor urged the two neighbouring communities of Oyigbo and Tai to continue embracing dialogue in resolving the boundary dispute between them.
The deputy governor who is also Chairman of the Rivers State Boundary Committee reminded the visitors of the pains and hardship always associated with communal clashes, and warned that the State Government would invoke the full wrath of the law on any individual or group found fermenting trouble.
She also commented on the International Peace Day, Wednesday last week. In a statement signed by Press Secretary to the deputy governor, Dr. Harry-Banigo emphasized that the welfare and security of the people were paramount to the Chief Wike-led administration. She called on the federal government to facilitate an action plan that would bring security closer to the door steps of the citizens, as most criminals often run back to their country of origin for refuge after committing crime.
A statement from the Special Adviser on Electronic Media to Governor Wike on Thursday affirmed the new wave of road rehabilitation embarked upon by the Wike administration through the envigoured State Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Agency. Beginning from May 29th, 2015 when assumed office, Chief Wike has adopted a double – barreled approach to fix roads in the state and rebuild the State’s economy.
Also, last Thursday the deputy governor in a statement described the delay by INEC to conduct the remaining re-run legislative polls in the State as provocative and constitutional breach by the electoral umpire. She wondered why the opposition is comfortable denying the people representation in the National Assembly.
Returning to the State on Thursday evening, Governor Nyesom Wike had received an award in the United Kingdom following his performance in moving and transforming Rivers State.
Last Friday, the governor commenced official duties holding an Executive Council meeting and receiving different committee reports, including the Captain Elechi Amadi’s Burial Committee report. Later in the evening of Friday, the governor and his wife, Justice Eberechi Wike hosted 50th birthday celebrations for wife of statesman and politician Chief Sergeant Awuse. Justice Nyesom Wike poured encomiums on Mrs Victoria Awuse who she described as an educationist and role model.
Last Saturday, a statement from the governor’s media aide announced the appointment of Daye Graham-Douglas as Special Assistant on Street/Traffic Lights. The appointment is to foster control and management of the new traffic lights.
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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