Politics
Wike Inaugurates More Commissioners, Perm Secs
Last week, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike expanded the state Executive Council as he swore in nine new Commissioners. The Commissioners who were earlier screened by the state House of Assembly were on Wednesday sworn in and also given their portfolios during the State Executive Council meeting.
The new Commissioners and their portfolios included: Barr Eloka Tasie-Amadi, Chieftaincy Affairs; Hon Boma Iyaye, Sports; Hon Diameter Herbert-Miller, Power; Tonye Oniyinde, Culture and Tourism; and Dr Tamunosisi Gogo, Gaja, Water Resources.
Others were: Dr Igbiks Tamuno, Environment; Hon Emeka Onowu, Special Duties, Governor’s Office; Prof Chike Princewill, Health, and Mr Ohia Prince, Ministry of Youth Development.During the swearing ceremony in Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Wike warned them to shun ethnic jingoism, saying they were appointed to serve the state and not their ethnic nationalities.
“Don’t use my administration to be an ethnic superstar. You are appointed to serve the people of Rivers State, not a particular ethnic group”, he said.
In similar vein, the state Chief Executive, last Tuesday, swore in 17 new Permanent Secretaries to invigorate the Rivers State Civil Service. The newly appointed Permanent Secretaries were yet to be drafted to specific ministries.
In response to the dreaded Coronavirus epidemic ravaging the world, the Rivers State Government, last week, took drastic measures to protect the state. At the state Executive Council Meeting held last Wednesday, the Council directed the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Prof Chike Princewill to cast a wholistic look at the development and work out a comprehensive plan for tackling the virus in Rivers State.
The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) World Executive Committee Meeting and the AIPS Africa Meeting billed for Port Harcourt, the Garden City, in October this year, was another issue at the front burner, last week.
In a bid to organise a world class event, the state Government, last week inaugurated a thirteen- man committee to organise the event.
Swearing in the Committee which is headed by the the National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Honour Sirawoo, the Governor emphasised that everything needed to make it a successful event that would leave an indelible impression, should be done.
“ This is the first time that Nigeria is hosting the event and it is happening in Rivers State. Committee members must work together to place Rivers State on the global map.
“ We are hosting international sports journalists. This is an opportunity to promote Rivers State. After the meeting, the international journalists should be our global ambassadors”, Wike said.
Rivers State Government House was in a mourning mood last week, following the sudden demise of the Chaplain of the Government House, Port Harcourt Chapel of Everlasting Grace, Venerable Sunday Opara.
Governor Wike led a delegation of the state Government on a condolence visit to the family of the deceased on Friday. He expressed shock at the development, saying he had no knowledge that the late cleric was even ill.
The Governor who condoled the family assured that the state Government would identify with the family during the burial and also take care of the family he left behind.
He described the late Opara as a committed official who served God and the state passionately, and promised that the positive roles he played in the development of the state would not be forgotten.
Responding on behalf of the family, the former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon Austin Opara, thanked the Governor and the State Executive Council for identifying with the family at their moment of grief.
Last week, Governor Wike announced the plan by the state Government to construct a five- star hotel at the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park to make it a comprehensive package for leisure and tourism.
He announced this last Friday during the official opening of the Ultra-modern Michael Garden Restaurant at the Pleasure Park.
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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