Politics
Wike Tasks Rivers People On Development
Issues concerning the Real Madrid Academy, established by the Rivers State Government led by Governor Nyesom Wike, dominated activities in Government House , Port Harcourt, last week.
Governor Wike led top officials of the State Government to Madrid in Spain last week to seal necessary agreement with authorities of the Real Madrid Foundation.
While there, the Governor also interacted with the President of Real Madrid Football Club, Floretino Perez to seal the agreement.
Addressing journalists as he returned to the state last Thursday, Governor Wike said, “ with the signing of the ratification agreement, we are good to go. Any moment from now, the academy will start full operations.
He disclosed that over 1,500 applications had been received from prospective students of the academy from Rivers State and other parts of the country.
He noted that the academy had placed Rivers State on the global football map.
Also last week, the Rivers State Chief Executive commissioned the new Radiology Department of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt which was upgraded and reequipped by the present state government.
He reiterated his commitment to quality healthcare for the people of the state and stressed that his administration would continue to invest in the hospital and the College of Medicine which are his initiatives.
The governor explained that with the high quality equipment installed at the hospital, it was incumbent on the management of the hospital to effectively utilise their internally generated revenue .
Wike announced that the state government would this week commence reconstruction of the State owned School of Nursing which is planned to be part of the teaching hospital.
He further announced that by next week , his administration would release the outstanding funds for the training of resident doctors and other health professionals for the development of the health sector.
Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Mrs Caroline Wali said prior to the turnaround, equipment at the department were obsolete and dysfunctional and thanked Governor Wike for the transformation.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Friday Aaron, disclosed that the Radiology Department was strategic in healthcare delivery.
Aaron noted that with the upgrade and reequipping of the department , it would serve the entire South South and South East geopolitical zones.
Another major event in Brick House last week was the solidarity visit by Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide to the Governor .
President General of the organisation, Prof Emenike Wami said the visit was to congratulate Governor Wike on his victory at the 2019 governorship election.
“ We are here to congratulate you on your victory at the polls. We are happy that you heeded our call that you seek a second term in office as a result of your outstanding performance.
In his response, Governor Wike thanked Ogbakor Ikwerre for the strong support before, during and after the elections remarking that support from the four Ikwerre speaking local government areas was overwhelming.
The governor called on sons and daughters of Rivers State to work towards developing the state irrespective of the political party they belong.
“ You need the support of everyone to advance any political interest in the state”.
He warned traditional rulers against taking sides with cultists and criminals stressing that any traditional ruler indicted by cultists would face full weight of the law.
Chris Oluoh
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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