Politics
Wike Harps On Unity
Two events last week in Government House took the lead in the media. The Sallah visit of the governor with some state leaders to Sokoto State. The visit was to underscore the unity amongst the various parts of the federation which Chief Nyesom Wike has been championing over the years. The governor also attended Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide confab in the United States of America.
Last Sunday, at St. Martins Anglican Church Ogu in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, the governor explained the dissolution of the state executive council. He stated that the action was to re-organise the machinery of government and move the state forward.
The church’s thanksgiving at Ogu was in honour of the majority whip of the state House of Assembly, Hon Evans Bipi. He particularly lauded Bipi for his unwavering loyalty, since from the beginning of the struggle for the enthronement of a NEW Rivers State.
Last Monday, the governor played host to the Muslim community, as a way of celebrating Eid el fitri. The governor assured them, that he would continue to sponsor them for hajj, as his administration believed in the spiritual development on the people.
He used the event to condemn the recent call by some youths in the North asking Ibos to quit the area. He said, “Nigeria must be one. All of us will live together. All of us are free to do business anywhere in the country. Whether you are from the North, you are free to stay here and do business”.
But before the governor hosted the Muslim community, he had visited the site of the deteriorated portions of the Aba/Port Harcourt Expressway and ordered that repair works should commence, so that commuters playing the route will not face difficulty.
Two days later Chief of Staff, Chief Emeka Woke explained why the governor had taken up the challenge even though the road is federal’s. He blamed some federal parastatals for failing to meet their own end of the agreement, as they failed to pay their contributions.
Last Tuesday, Chief Nyesom Wike alongside some prominent traditional rulers and political leaders paid a sallah visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III. At the palace, Wike declared that the people of Rivers State believed in the unity of the country, noting that they will work for the country to stay united.
Last Wednesday, the Ogonis rose in agreement to endorse Chief Wike for a second term. The Ogonis namely under the PDP umbrella and led by Senator Lee Maeba said Wike had worked and performed beyond expectation to get a second term.
The Wife of the State Governor, Justice Suzette Nyesom Wike played host to Nigerian Army officers Wives Association (NAOWA) last Friday in Government House.
She called for the setting up of a trust fund that would cater for the welfare of armed forces personnel families. She pointed out that the administration of Chief, Wike remained committed to the welfare of security personnel serving in the state.
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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