Politics
RSG Warns Against Blockade Of NDDC Gate
Rivers State Government has warned that it would no longer condone situations where some protesting youths of the Niger Delta region would block the gate of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) headquarters in Port Harcourt over frivolous agitations.
The state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, who gave the warning last Tuesday when the new Interim Management Committee paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Port Harcourt, said such protests were commonly carried out by youths from certain ethnic group who thought that the Commission belonged to them.
The Governor expressed dismay that such protests frustrated socio-economic activities in the state.
The Governor said: “ NDDC does not belong to any ethnic group in the Niger Delta region. It doesn’t belong to anybody. There are people who have seen themselves that they are the owners of NDDC. They leave their state and come to NDDC to block gate. We are peaceful people, but nobody should push us to the point where we can tell you enough is enough.
“The next time they try it again, to cause crisis in our state, l ‘ll mobilise our people against them. I am not saying if you have grievance with NDDC you should not seek how to settle it. But don’t use it to cause problem for us, to begin to make economic activities not to move on”.
The Governor challenged the Interim Management Committee to make a difference by focusing on the core mandate of developing the region.
Another major event in Brick House last week was the official presentation of letter nominating Governor Wike as the 2020 Extra Ordinary Personality of the Year Award by the management of Silverbird Group. Silverbird Creative Development Manager, Mr Jacob Akinyemi Johnson,who presented the Nomination Letter, said the Governor’s nomination was as a result of the projects he embarked upon and his fearlessness.
Johnson said : “ Your boldness made you the first prominent Nigerian to raise the alarm over the atrocities of the now disbanded SARS. And you also spoke against the politicisation of security. Now your forthrightness in telling the truth to power, including the presidency when you think things are going wrong is worthy of emulation”.
Commenting on Projects, Johnson said: “ You promised on the day you were sworn in for second term that you will work for Rivers State people to the very last day and you are living up to that task.
The Rivers State Governor thanked the management of Silverbird for the honour bestowed on him and the people of Rivers State.
He restated that his administration would continue to deliver developmental projects and improve the well-being of Rivers people till the very last day of his tenure.
Also within the week under review, Governor Wike was in Yola, the Adamawa State capital to inspect some projects embarked upon by his Adamawa State counterpart, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
Governor Wike, after inspecting the Greater Interchange and Underpass said he was impressed with the developmental strides of the Adamawa State Governor.
Governor Wike stated that with the overwhelming infrastructural development taking place in all the PDP states, which Nigerians could attest to, it would be impossible for the PDP not to win the 2023 general elections.
Also last week in Brick House, Governor Wike described as false, an article which was published in Guardian , with the headline, “ Tinubu Cannot See Presidency Gate In 2023”, and attributed to him.
The Rivers State Governor said, though it was true that he granted press interview to newsmen after projects inspection in Yola, but that questions asked, ranged from the purpose of his visit, the prospects of the PDP winning the 2023 general elections and Nigeria’s rating in the global corruption index which was recently published by Transparency International, and nothing to do with Chief Bola Tinubu.
A release by Gov Wike’s Special Assistant on Media , Kelvin Ebiri, stated that irrespective of political affiliation, Gov Wike has enormous respect for Chief Tinubu and would never say or do anything to malign the reputation of the elder statesman, describing the said report as mischievous.
By: 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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