Politics
Wike Charges New Perm Secretaries On Bureaucracy
Activities in Government House last week began with
a visit of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase who paid a courtesy call to Governor Nyesom Wike on Tuesday.
Mr. Arase was full of commendation for Governor Wike, who he said was able to check post-elections security challenges and putting the state on track of transformation.
“In the last one month I have followed the development and we are on course,” he said.
The IGP further commended Wike for his efforts to raise the security profile of the state, and for setting up a taskforce to manage the rising traffic situation, which has become chaotic with the numerous road repair project.
Shortly after the visit, Governor Wike in company of the IGP proceeded to the Sharks Stadium where they unveiled 64 new security Sur vans.
According to the governor, 34 of the vehicles are for joint patrols and 30 for police patrol.
The governor said it was high time the security forces took the war to the door steps of the criminals, emphasizing that there was no excuse to justify crime.
He reiterated the stance of his administration to protect lives and properties and assured that he would not shirk from the responsibility.
On Wednesday, while the governor was in Abuja for State duties, Chief of Staff, Engr Emeka Woke, inaugurated a committee to audit abandoned school projects in the state.
The committee has two weeks to submit its report.
On Thursday, Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, played host to Environmental Health Officers and called for a new sanitary and waste management approach. The group was led by a director, Kikpoye Phillip.
On Friday, Governor Wike returned to the state and immediately signed three bills passed by the state House of Assembly into law. The bills include the Rivers State Polytechnic bill now renamed Kenule Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, the amended Rivers State Kidnap Prohibition Amendment Bill No5 of 2015 and the Traditional Rulers Law No4 of 2015.
The governor later swore-in 12 new permanent secretaries, as he charged them not to see their appointment as political patronage, but a call to serve.
Barrister Wike warned the new permanent secretaries to ensure that government succeeds, stressing that no file should exceed 24 hours on their tables without being treated.
On Saturday, Governor Wike attended the wedding church service of the daughter of the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Opunne Kenneth Minimah and Lt. Bonaventure Obonyano at St Cyprians Anglican Church, Port Harcourt.
The Rivers State governor after the wedding service inspected some ongoing road projects. From the site at Evo/Woji Road in New GRA, Wike’s inspection was cut short at Mile 4 axis where he addressed protesting bus drivers over the killing of their colleague by a trigger happy policeman. He promised to handle the matter, and pleaded with them to go back to their businesses.
The governor continued the project, inspection covering Elioparanwo Road, the Moot Court at University of Science and Technology and later to the Odili/Woji/Akpajo Link Road. He was accompanied by Senator George Sekibo and Chief of Staff.
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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