Politics
Wike, Pacesetter, Achiever-Anyaoku
Last Saturday’s Governor of the Year award by The Sun Newspaper to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike continued to reverberate within and beyond the shores of the State took the centre stage of events last week.
Former Commonwealth-Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku who chaired the occasion said Chief Wike has set himself apart from other governors by achieving so much within one and half years.
In his acceptance speech shortly after he received the prestigious award, Chief Wike said the country needs to experience peace and development, when the several lies affecting her functionality are dismantled. He also called for immediate reforms where states are treated as federating units and not as departments of the federal government.
On her part, the deputy governor of the State, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo says The Sun Newspaper Governor of the Year to Chief Wike is a sign that the governor is fulfilling his Social Contract with Rivers people.
In a statement on Monday, Dr Harry-Banigo noted that the choice of Governor Wike by the management of The Sun Newspaper was not surprising because he is a man of vision with leadership acumen, chosen by God to restore Rivers State and her people.
The governor had returned from receiving the Sun awards last Sunday and later inspected some ongoing projects. He inspected the Ecumenical Centre and the Pleasure Park last Monday, he was at Abuja for the emergency meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Chief Wike came back last Tuesday after the PDP emergency meeting to host the Igbo socio-political group Ohaneze Ndigbo in Government House. The governor used the forum to lambast the Federal Government for the use of pliant security agencies to manipulate the security infrastructure of the state.
Earlier, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr John Nwodo called for restructuring of the country to give every section a sense of belonging.
Last Wednesday, the governor kicked off campaigns for the supplementary rerun elections in Etche and Omuma Federal Constituency at Okehi, headquarters of Etche Local Government Area. Wike used the campaign to comment on the report of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that indicted the police and other security agencies for committing breaches during the December 10, 2016 rerun.
In the words of Governor Wike, “They should bury their heads in shame. They are plotting how to kill us, but God is exposing them. It’s only God that has the final say”.
Last Thursday, the governor continued with the campaign and spoke at Afara Town. The governor stressed that due to APC’s failed governance style all the development structures of the country have collapsed compelling APC to rely on security and INEC to rig elections.
Last Friday, the governor attended the burial of former House of Assembly member, Sir. Precious Oforji at Oyigbo Local Government Area. Speaking during the funeral service, the governor announced that two major roads in the area will be constructed to boost the economy of the local government area.
Shortly after the burial of Sir Oforji and on his way returning to Port Harcourt, Chief Wike ran into auto mechanics who were engaged in burning tyres and condemned oil on Aba Road. The governor, accompanied by the former Acting National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus and Bro. Felix Obuah, former governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, directed the state Fire Service to put out the fire. He noted that government is working hard to stop environmental pollution and menace of the black soot.
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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