Politics
APC Has Failed Nigerians – Wike
Activities to mark the Golden Jubilee Anniversary took the front burner in Government House last week. However, it was the Thanksgiving Service to commemorate the elevation of the Abonnema monarch in Abonnema that opened the week.
At the thanksgiving service, held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cathedral, Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Governmnet Area, Chief Wike acknowledged that, the Kalabari people gave him support and expressed appreciation to them.
As a way of reciprocating their gesture, he said the administration has decided to site projects that will touch the lives of the people. The projects include, the rehabilitation of the Abonnema General Hospital and the Abonnema Ring Road.
The Governor said, the Zonal Hospital at Degema will soon be completed alongside the rehabilitation of the Abonnema General Hospital, and promised that government will help expand the landmass of Kalabari area through reclamation.
Last Monday, the governor played host to the National President of Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Mike Ogirima.
Chief Wike, at the courtesy call disclosed plans by the State Government to build a modern Specialist Hospital for the State. He said the new specialist Hospital will specialize in the treatment of cancer, kidney, heart and liver disease.
On plans to revive Braithwaite Memorial Hospital (BMSH), the governor noted that, the State Government has released four million dollars out of 6 million to re-equip the hospital to modern standard.
Last Tuesday, the governor through his deputy governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo flagged-off the 50th Anniversary Free Medical Programme. The exercise was done in conjunction with the Rivers Foundation, USA in Port Harcourt.
According to the governor, the state for first time has given – interest free loans to private medical practitioners as a way of equipping their hospital to standard. He said the administration is not only building projects, but building human capital, especially in the health sector stressing that the complete turnaround of the BMSH would not only help train medical man power but the Rivers State in general.
On the same Tuesday, the governor was at Elele in Ikwerre Local Government Area to flagg off construction of the Elele-Alimini-Internal road. He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has – failed Nigerians , “Enough is enough for the lying and deception of the APC you can see the difference between light and darkness”.
He said the people of Rivers State has no business being in APC as the party has shown by its actions that it will not execute projects in the state.
Speaking at Oyigbo Local Government Area last Wednesday, the governor condemned the use of soldiers as security aides to politicians.
He regretted that in Nigeria, the authorities have made it a practice to allocate soldiers to politicians.
Last Tuesday, after the official commencing of work at old Aba Road/’Mban Camp) at Oyigbo, Chief Wike played host to former President Jonathan, who was in the state to unveil the newly reconstructed Nkpogu Bridge, Phase II.
Former President Jonathan praised Governor Wike for transforming Rivers State. He said Wike has surpassed expectation and therefore he has no regrets for supporting him to be a governor.
The governor last Friday, unveiled the new Federal High Court Complex. The new building aimed at providing more court rooms and comfort for the Federal High Court was inaugurated by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta.
After unveiling the Federal High Court Complex, the governor was represented at the Golden Jubilee Youth Day, by his deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo.
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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