Politics
Wike’s Gift To Ahoada: A Lifetime Transformation
The Ekpeye Ethnic Nationality is one of the key strongholds of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. It is a fertile ground where the people are totally in support of Governor Wike for his outstanding contributions to the development of the area.
Through positive engagements and investments, Governor Wike revived the development process in Ekpeye Kingdom. Reaching to communities in line with his strategic plan to lift the area.
It has been the same story within the Engeni Ethnic Nationality where the governor has executed key projects for the good of the people.
Over the period, Governor Wike has elevated four Chieftaincy Stools in Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas to first class status.
In Ahoada East Local Government Area, Governor Wike has invested in: Edoha, Ikata – Ochigba Road ,Ahoada – Ekpena Road (ongoing) ,Ahaoada- Odiemerenyi – Ihugbogo – Odieke – Akoh Road (ongoing) ,Zonal Hospital, Ahoada (ongoing reconstruction), Western Ahoada County High School, Ahoada (ongoing reconstruction), GJSS, Ogbo and Government Primary School, Ahoada.
Others include: St. Peter’s Primary School, Ahoada, Government Primary School, Edeoha, GJSS, Odiabidhi (ongoing) and Electrification of Ihuaba, Idoke, Ihuowo, Ihuama (Ward 10) – Awarded.
In Ahoada West Local Government Area, Governor Wike is constructing Odiokwu Internal Roads, Odiokwu-Anwuigboko and Odiokwu-Oyigba Roads. Also under construction in the area is the Model Primary Healthcare Centre, Odiokwu. Also in the Ahoada West Local Government Area, Governor Wike is reconstructing Government Secondary School, Okarki and several other schools in the area.
However, the most outstanding contribution of Governor Wike to the development of Ahoada is the siting of two Faculties of the Rivers State University in Ahoada.
The Faculties of Humanities and Social sciences will operate from Ahoada Town. These faculties will re-engineer the economy of Ahoada, create jobs and improve access to university education in the area.
This is a lifetime gift to the people of Ahoada, a means of permanently creating opportunities of growth to the people.
Two highly viable Faculties of the State University will attract millions of people from across the country and internationally , to Ahoada.
The multiplier effect of this investment cannot be estimated. In very simple terms, it means more houses as quarters for staff, more buildings as hostels for students, more vehicles in the town for logistics and more security presence.
For the first time since Independence, Ahoada is getting the required attention. This is an initiative to transform Ahoada into a full fledged urban centre. An urban centre that would play a critical role in the massive growth of Rivers State and the rest of the South-South Geo-political zone.
In a bid to comply with the Governor Nyesom Wike’s directive that two faculties of the state University, Humanities and Social Sciences be moved to Ahoada East Local Government Area, the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University (RSU), Prof. Blessing Chimezie Didia has taken steps to actualize the project .
Prof Didia has visited Ahoada East Local Government Area and has commenced processes for the establishment of the the proposed Ahoada Campus of the Rivers State University.
He lauded the robust educational policies of the present government in the state, adding that the state government has provided the enabling environment that promoted qualitative teaching and learning in the state.
Governor Wike’s development of different parts of Rivers State is strategically targeted at lifting people and communities. For the people of Ahoada, they would witness the blessing of having a pro-people leader beyond the projects already executed for them.
Long after 2023, the developmental process kick-started by Governor Wike in Ahoada will continue to blossom. An investment in university education is a lifelong gift for Ahoada to continually renew itself.
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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