Politics
Wike Swears-in Laminkara To Replace Daisy Okocha
Activities to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remem
brance Day dominated most part of programmes in Government House last week. Though emblem launching and donations towards the programme had commenced last year December the final phase of the annual event came to a climax with a wreath-laying ceremony by Governor Nyesom Wike and other top government officials, on Friday, January 15, 2016 at the Isaac Boro Park cenotaph, Port Harcourt.
On Sunday activities to mark the final phase of the Armed Forces Remembrace Day started with a Special Church Service at St. Thomas Anglican Church, Diobu, Governor Wike and other top government functionaries attended the church service.
In his sermon, Archbishop of Niger Delta Province, Most Rev. Ignatius Kattey commended Governor Wike for the impact he has made in the state over the past seven months.
The Anglican Bishop used the Church Service to commend men of the armed forces for sacrificing their lives in keeping the country united and in peace. He said, “what they have done in the North-Eastern part of the country have shown that indeed we have armed forces in Nigeria”.
On his part, Governor Wike underscored the importance of celebrating the heroic deeds of the armed forces. “For Nigeria to be still united we owe men of the armed forces because they sacrificed for the country”.
Returning to the state on Wednesday, the governor commenced governance activities in earnest with several meetings aimed at moving the state forward.
On Thursday however, the governor and other top government officials attended Special Church Servcie and valedictory court session in honour of retiring Chief Judge of the State, Justice Daisy Okocha.
After the church service at St. Paul Anglican Cathedral Diobu, a valedictory court session was held at the Chief Judge’s Ceremonial Court. Encomiums were poured on the justice Daisy Okocha who had only spent 11 days as a substantive Chief Judge of the state, she had been Acting Chief Judge from June to December, 2015. Governor Wike extolled her achievements and wishing her a fruitful retirement.
On Friday, the Governor Swore-in a new Acting Chief Judge to replace retired Justice Okocha who bowed out of service same day.
The new Acting Chief Judge, Justice Adama Iyayi-Laminkara promised to uphold the tenets of the law by ensuring equitable delivery of justice in the state.
Shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, the governor proceeded to Isaac Boro Park for the ceremonial wreath laying exercise and 21 gun salute for the fallen heroes. After the brief ceremony, the governor and other dignitaries returned to Government House where he addressed legionnaires and widows of ex-servicemen.
While addressing the legionnaires, the governor promised to ensure that their welfare and the families of those who lost their lives will receive priority attention. Most especially he promised to incorporate widows of armed forces personnel to benefit from the N2 billion CBN loan scheme for the state.
On Saturday, a Special announcement was issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr Austin Tam-George over activities of some Biafran agitators in the Oyigbo area of the state.
Governor Wike through the statement condemned acts of criminality perpetrated by Biafran agitators, as he directed security agencies to arrest the situation.
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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