Politics
$43m: Wike Gives FG 7-Day Ultimatum
Activities in Government House last week commenced with the State Chief Executive, Chief Nyesom Wike attending the second session of Third Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Etche, in Etche Local Government Area.
The Anglican Bishop of Etche Diocese, Rt Rev. Okechukwu Nwala was full of praises for Chief Wike. He recalled that before now the people of the area suffered from bad roads until Wike came to their rescue.
Responding, Rivers State Governor, announced that his administration will construct the second phase of Egbu-Etche Road. Said Wike: The Etche people are part of Rivers State and they deserve developmental projects. Etche produces oil and food and should get her share of development.”
Last Monday, Wike played host to two groups which include the chiefs and people of Bille Kingdom and leaders of International Church Impact Communiun (ICICI). The church leaders were led by Archbishop John Praise.
Praise poured encomiums on Wike for the various developmental projects. In his speech, Governor Wike announced the establishment of Christian fund.
Addressing the people of Bille Kingdom earlier, Chief Wike promised the people of the Kingdom that he will embark on sand filling and shore protection for them. The governor stressed that the project is vital to the sustenance of Bille Kingdom, assuring that it will be executed in phases.
Last Wednesday, the usual weekly State Executive Council Meeting held with the governor presiding.
The State Governor last Thursday, commiserated with families of persons who drowned in Bonny River penultimate week. Represented by Commissioner for Transport, Deacon Akie Fubara, Wike said the security of lives on the Bonny –Port Harcourt sea route remains a top priority, which the administration has been addressing.
Calling on transporters and passengers to be safety conscious, he explained that transport safety does not just end with wearing of life vests, but in ensuring that boats are certified to be sea-worthy, the drivers and operators, well trained.
Last Friday, the governor signed five bills into law. The bills include: Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) Amendment Number 1 Law, Number 1 of 2017, Rivers State Honours Law Number 2 of 2017, Rivers State Reserve Fund (Repcal) Law Number 3 of 2017, Rivers State University Law Number 4 of 2017 and Rivers State Teaching Hospital Law Number 5 of 2017.
Chief Wike, on the same day, at the Sharks Football Stadium, received former Chieftains of the APC into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The governor assured that the PDP would continue to wax strong, while flaying Ali Modu Sheriff whom he accused of being used as a mole to factionalise the party.
The governor said that the defection of APC members to the PDP signals the death of the political party in the state because according to him, it was founded on falsehood and deception.
Chief Wike on Good Friday felicitated with Christians. He urged them to emulate Christ by making sacrifices that will advance the course of development. He submitted that Easter exemplifies the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ to save mankind.
In the same vein, the deputy governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo called for continuous prayers and support for the Wike-led administration, admonishing Christians to use the Easter period to rededicate themselves to the service of God.
She had earlier called on Health Workers in the State to be more dedicated to their duties. Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo at a book launch by Roland Obed-Whyte said health workers should not compromise standards.
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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