Politics
We’ll Stand By Dismissed Police Officers – Wike
The New Year Banquet threw the curtain open for the week and year in Government House last week. The launching of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem for fallen soldiers also took centre stage in the past week.
The State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike who joined the guests and other citizens of the state to celebrate the New Year, thanked God Almighty for His infinite mercies. He said, “This is a unique banquet because this is jubilee year for our state. 2017 will be a prosperous year for Rivers State.”
Chief Wike lauded the security agencies for their effort in making the state safe for all citizens and urged them to put more effort in the new year to ensure safety of lives and property of all Rivers people.
Enumerating his plans for the year, the Rivers State Chief Executive said all ongoing projects will commence in earnest this new year. He specifically mentioned the Sakpenwa/Bori Road and the Andoni/Opobo Unity Road among other projects that will get priority attention in 2017.
The governor on Wednesday last week played host to the Managing Director of Independent Newspapers, Mr. Ted Iwere and later hosted the new General Officer Commending (GOC) of the 6th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Maj. General K. I. Abdulkarim.
Within the week, Chief Wike met with Caretaker Chairmen of Local Government Areas.
Following the sudden sack of policemen, under the governor’s security/convoy by the Police Service Commissioner on Wednesday, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George released a statement on Thursday condemning the action.
In the statement, Dr. Tam-George noted with dissatisfaction the way and manner the six policemen attached to the governor’s security were dismissed from service following an unfair and secret trial by the police authorities in Abuja,.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communication said the action displays lack of professionalism and respect for human rights in the Nigeria Police Force. He continued, “the dismissed officers committed no crime, other than foiled a carefully-orchestrated electoral heist by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in collusion with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Nigeria Police Force.”
The governor on Saturday last week during a “welcome back: ceremony for High Chief Cassidy Ikegbidi in Ahoada reiterated the commissioner’s statement. Chief Wike said, “Rivers State will stand by the sacked police officers forever.”
He stressed that no amount of intimidation will make the State Government to abandon the dismissed police officers, as it’s ready to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.
On the return of Chief Ikegbidi to the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the governor charged the former Ahaoda-East Local Government Chairman to stand firm even in the face of intimidation and persecution.
Chief Wike described Chief Ikegbidi as one who stands for what he believes in and for standing firm with Senator Ossy Ideozu to win the area.
He used the ceremony to announce plans to construct some abandoned roads, which include Ochiba/Uzochi Road, Ahaoda/Udereke Ihugbogo Road and Odiokwu/Uzbeta/Odereke Road, Chief Wike also announced the elevation of Akporo Traditional Ruler to a second class.
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.