Politics
New Rivers, Priority – Wike
Activities in Government House last week were
dominated by the three-day Government Officials Retreat at Onne in Eleme Local Government Area of the State
The governor had last weekend attended the burial of mother of Ebonyi State governor, Deaconess Margaret Umahi at Umumaga Uhuni in Ohaozara local government area of the state. On returning from the burial, he took time out to inspect ongoing projects which included the piece of land earmarked for the construction of a new abattoir in Akpajo area.
Governor Wike used the inspection to explain why he suspended the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Kelvin Wachuku. He noted that the commissioner failed to direct site engineers to monitor the execution of the contracts from the stand point of the state government.
In his words, “This is the time to deliver good governance to the people of Rivers State and I will not tolerate negligence of duty. The failure to deploy site engineer to these project, three project sites means that the government and people of the state are short charged”.
Ahead the May/June Senior School Exams and in line with his promise to upgrade facilities in government owned secondary schools, Governor Wike, through the state chairman of the Rivers State Secondary School Board, Chief David Briggs, distribute science practical equipments to 247 secondary schools across the state.
He described the gesture as a proof of his commitment to a functional educational system where no child is denied the opportunity of writing SSCE simply due to his or her poor background.
Last week, Governor Nyesom Wike inspected ongoing works to rehabilitate the old Brick House building in Government House.
Last Wednesday, the governor swore in the members of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry into the violence and killings that rocked the March 19, 2016 State National Assembly re-run elections in the state.
The governor, also last Wednesday, swore in Mr. Ugbana Isaruk as a Commissioner of the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Mr. Isaruk replaces a deceased member of the commission.
The State Chief Executive, while swearing in chairman of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry, urged them to make necessary recommendations that will enhance political stability.
The three day Government Officials Retreat tagged, “Strengthening Capacity, Efficiency and Service Delivery for Sustainable Development”, kicked off in the earnest at Onne last Thursday.
Governor Wike declared the retreat open and promised that his administration will do all it can to steer the state in the right path of development, “We promise to build a new Rivers State where our people will be secure in a well managed government that cares about how we serve our people”.
On her part, the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, while declaring the retreat closed last Friday last week urged participants to uphold the essence of the programme and bequeath a worthy legacy for generations to remember.
Last Saturday, Governor Wike attended the 28th Convocation Ceremonies of the State University of Science and Technology in Port Harcourt. The governor, while commending graduands and the governing council of the institution for a job well done, donated the sum of N1billion for capital projects. He assured that his administration will work towards creating employment opportunities for the graduands.
Later in the evening of last Saturday Wike and Ebonyi and Taraba governors met with members of the PDP convention billed to hold in the state next month.
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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