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Rivers APC’s Uncharitable Attack On Wike’s Laudable Development Policies

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5 years ago

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Our attention has been drawn to a mischievous statement made by the spokesperson of the moribund Rivers  State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in an online publication intended to undermine the lofty even developmental agenda being religiously executed under the NEW Vision of the Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike’s administration in Rivers State.
The APC has through its mystified spokesperson, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke accused the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of deliberately embarking on a development policy that promotes ethnic agenda and is making nonsense of past efforts made by Rivers Governments to nurture and ensure even development of the State.
In summary, Ogbonna Nwuke and his APC’s opprobrium was hinged on the myopic notion  that there could be no justification for the Rivers State Government to continue  with its rapid infrastructural development of the State particularly the decision to build a 9th flyover bridge in Rumuepirikom and the Cardiovascular Hospital within the State capital which the APC contends are of ethnic colouration and of no economic value to the people of Rivers State. The party, in further demonstration of its lack of capacity in governance went ahead to query the rationale behind the well articulated payment methods of the Rivers State Government to facilitate unhindered and scheduled delivery of signature projects.
May we, for the upteenth time sound it into the seeming empty minds of Ogbonna Nwuke and the reminants still holding on to the fast sinking ship of the APC that unlike the leadership of the moribund APC, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike did not jump into governance. He is and remains a visioner who believes in listening and giving to the people what they want. In 2015, he engaged all stakeholder groups and launched the NEW vision blueprint. All the stakeholder groups in the state were consulted and the result is a collective vision of Rivers people, but there is a visioner in the person of His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. The robust engagement of stakeholders is what has resulted in the rapid infrastructural development currently witnessed in all parts of the state.
In spite of the repeated attempts by the disgruntled Ogbonna Nwuke and his masters in the APC to fan the embers of ethnic  disharmony in the state, we are encouraged by the fact that Rivers peopler are aware that the Rivers State Government under the pragmatic and visionary leadership of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is embarking on rapid infrastructure development to change the landscape of the state through the execution of key signature projects particularly in the area of road infrastructure, to accelerate robust economic activities within the urban centres and their environs.
Using the various media infrastructure in which a wide range of debates take place and variety of viewpoints represented, the Rivers State Government led by His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has continued to deliver projects that impact positively for the socio-economic betterment of Rivers State and her people.
The indisputable fact remains that between late last year and the whole of the first quarter of 2021, Rivers State was on the global map as eminent citizens of Nigeria joined Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to commission projects in eleven (11) Local Government Areas of the State. This unprecedented development coming at a time when most leaders were hiding under the cover of the Covid-19 pandemic to cover their ineptitude will surely remain legendary and has remained a mystery to these agent provocateurs who have assembled themselves in the disguise of a political party called APC desperate to sow and  promote ethnic divide.
There is no gain emphasising the fact clearly stated by Governor Nyesom Wike recently when the Vice President of Rotary Club of Port Harcourt,  Rotarian Obiageli Ejezie led other leaders of the association to the Government House, Port Harcourt, to confer on him the “2019/2020 Good Governance Award” for his outstanding achievements in project execution in Rivers State that in 2015, APC convinced Nigerians that they were going to offer better governance than the former President Goodluck Jonathan. But having taken over the realm of political leadership,  the APC has continued to drive the country on the path of retrogression.
“There can’t be good governance without security and this is based on rule of law. All of us are living witnesses in 2015 when it was alleged that the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan, could not perform.  So Nigeria needed a change. What has happened to the change? They have taken Nigeria back by 50 years.” These were the indisputable facts clearly stated by the Governor.
Governor Wike wondered how long the APC-led Federal Government will allow the needless killings and abduction of innocent Nigerians to continue. The governor obviously expressed the opinion of well meanig Nigerians that it is no longer acceptable for Nigerians to wake up daily to such ugly news of killings because they expect the government to guarantee security.
Today, Nigerians wake up every morning,  students are being kidnapped in both secondary schools and universities across the country, tens and thousands of people have been killed in all the states. So, it has become a norm that you wake up in the morning and the first thing you will see on the front page of dailies is 10 people have been kidnapped in Niger State; 20 have been killed in Zamfara State, 5 have been killed in Imo and this happens virtually every day. We think this clear failure of the APC’s governance of the country should disqualify the party in Rivers State from objective criticism in the state.
Ogbonna Nwuke and his cotravellers in the failed APC government should bury their heads in shame that despite all their efforts to instigate disharmny amongst the peace-loving people through their evil plots in the guise of pursuing the actualisation of riverine Governor, the Rivers State Government under the visionary leadership of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has done everything possible to secure lives and property of all residents in the state through the resuscitation of the C4i security outfit, the operation of the Neighbourhood Watch and equipping of the nation’s security agencies in the state.
Governor Wike has emphasised his administration’s readiness to partner with security agencies and other voluntary organisations to improve the wellbeing of Rivers people. He said, “This is because when Nigeria is bad, Rivers state will be bad since we are all component units of the country.  But as a government, we will continue to partner with voluntary organisations like Rotary Club to improve the wellbeing of our people.”
May we gladly inform these agents of distraction that the government of Governor Nyesom Wike is elated  by the fact that many social commentators across the country have opined with convictions, that the only person who can realistically beat the milestones laid by the Governor Wike government’s impressive record is Governor Nyesom Wike himself, especially when the next phase of projects commissioning would commence soon, which will unveil some of the most amazing and marvelous legacy infrastructural projects ever seen in Rivers State, such as the multi -billion naira Cassava Processing Company at Etche, the Kono-Opobo link road amongst others.
On that occasion, the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt, a notable development driven non- governmental organisation, Vice President of Rotary Club of Port Harcourt,  Rotarian Obiageli Ejezie said Rotary Board of Directors approved that Governor Wike is best suited for the 2019/2020 Good Governance Award for his sustainable projects.
Her words: “Many laudable and sustainable development projects of your government scattered across Rivers State. We note particularly your projects and achievements in the areas of urban renewal,  road maintenance,  construction of flyovers,  education, health care and others. The proactive manner your Excellency has managed the covid-19 pandemic has been serving the desired purpose of saving the lives of a considerable number of residents. “
Of course, the delivery of quality projects to the people is not new to Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. Everyone who has followed the trajectory of his administration objectively, will agree that he hit the ground running from the first day he assumed office in 2015, fixing roads and bridges, reorganizing institutions and establishments, opening up clamped down spaces and courageously mending a broken, dysfunctional and deliberately abandoned state by his predecessor who milked the State dry within eight years of wasted leadership.
Even against the backdrop of noisome buzzing of a seemingly jobless, fragmented and confused opposition in the state, project commissioning has become synonymous with the Governor Wike administration in the last five years.
One important fact which the APC and other objective critics will admit and even concede to is that the construction of infrastructural projects like road, bridges, jetties is not a one day job. Quality projects require careful planning, expert handling and many months of hard work and prudent management of resourses to ensure that projects are delivered to specification and on time to serve the people for a long time. This is what the Rivers State Government under Governor Wike has achieved with class, panache, tremendous success and a lot of goodwill and appreciation from Rivers people who will be the beneficiaries of these projects.
 Atangaye  is  spokesman, Rivers Unity Initiative. Port Harcourt.
By: Obakam Atangaye
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INEC Extends Candidate Submission Deadline Till ‘Morow

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1 week ago

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August 10, 2026

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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.

 

 

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2027: INEC Extends Submission Deadline For Assembly, Guber Candidates 

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1 week ago

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August 10, 2026

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given political parties three extra days to complete the submission of candidates for the February 2027 Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

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.

 

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Yilwatda’s Birthday Outreach Demonstrates Leadership – Kefas

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1 week ago

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August 10, 2026

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The Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, has described the medical outreach organised by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, as a powerful demonstration of leadership and compassion.

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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