Politics
Wike Inaugurates Medical Facilities At Bayelsa State Medical University
By: Beemene Tanee
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, as a special guest of his Bayelsa State counterpart, Senator Dounye Diri ,on Saturday, inaugurated some facilities at the Bayelsa State Medical University at Yenegoa the state capital.
Performing the inauguration, Governor Wike commended the Bayelsa State Governor for his efforts in providing critical infrastructure in the state and pointed out that such feat was the trade mark of Governors of the People’s Democratic Party.
He took a swipe at Governors of the ruling All Progressive Party which he noted were fond of giving excuses for their failure to dispense democratic dividends in their various states.
Governor Wike, who donated the sum of N500million for the completion of the Basic Clinical Science building of the university urged the people of Bayelsa state to continue to give their unflinching support to the government of Sen Diri adding only the PDP is determined to enthrone good governance in Nigeria.
The Rivers State Governor frowned at a situation where President Buhari is still reluctant to give accent to the Electoral Act despite the amendments by the National Assembly, noting that it was an indication of the APC’s ploy to frustrate Nigeria’s electoral process and keep the fate of Nigerians hanging.
Governor Wike also within the week at a security meeting with heads of security agencies and some Local Government chairmen at Government House Port, and emphasised the resolve of his administration to fight against illegal oil refining which he described as worse than arm robbery.
He ponted out that despite the fact that his government was in the opposition it would not condone the act of sabotage to national economy and its resultant health damage on the lives of the residents of Rivers state, adding that only LGA Chairmen that showed commitment in the detection and exposure of oil bunkering will receive the money pledged to the councils which have been approved.
Governor Wike also on Wednesday played a conciliatory role in mending the feud between two major leaders of the People’s Democratic Party in Plateau State, former Governor David Jonah Jang and former Governor of old Bendel state, Jeremiah Useni.
Identifying the disagreement between the two leaders as the bane of the PDP in Plateau State, Governor Wike, speaking with newsmen after a closed door meeting with Jang and Useni, said the resolve of the two leaders to work together now put the PDP on a strong footing to reclaim Plateau State which is a stronghold of the PDP.
Governor Wike also on Friday inspected the progress of work on the ongoing Oroabali Flyover handled by Julius Berger. He expressed satisfaction over the quality and spate of work on the project and stated that the construction of flyovers by his administration was to ease traffic congestion and promote ease of doing business in the state.
Also the Rivers State Executive Council on Thursday received a brief that N2billion and not the requested N2.5billion was released by the Central Bank of Nigeria as Health Care Intervention Support Fund to the state.
Briefing newsmen after the State Exco meeting, the Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu said the fund has already been deployed in the payment of contractors in the respective medical institutions for which the approval was sort and granted.
The Exco also grave approval to the Rivers state Government to acquire uncompleted buildings within the old and new GRA areas of Port Harcourt which serves as hideouts for criminal elements, thereby constituting nuisance to the state.
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.
-
Editorial1 day agoThat Oshiomhole’s Call On FG’s Road Projects
-
Education1 day ago
Environmental Education Remains Critical Tool To Address Environmental Challenges Says Experts
-
Education1 day ago
UNIPORT VC Receives Probe Report on Student Union Crisis
-
City Crime1 day agoTinubu Appoints Ex-Tide Staff Registrar Of Chartered Chemists
-
Oil & Energy1 day ago
NCDMB, BOI Unveil $100m Nigerian Content Equity Fund …Set To Invest $5m In Oil Firms
-
Business1 day ago
PTDF Committed To Tinubu’s Development Plan – CEO
-
News1 day agoNDLEA Alerts Parents After Uncovering Drugs In Cookies, Gummies
-
Oil & Energy1 day ago
Civil Society Demands Accountability over N60Billion AKS Oil Producing Communities