Politics
Wike Interfaces With Real Madrid Foundation
The pact between Rivers State Government and authorities of Real Madrid Foundation, Spain over the establishment of Real Madrid Football Academy in Rivers State dominated affairs in Rivers State Government House last week.
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, led a team representing the state to Spain to meet the Real Madrid Foundation to conclude preparatory talks for the project.
Wike, after a close-door meeting with leadership of the foundation, noted that the partnership had reached its high point and that when operational, the academy will help Rivers State harness opportunities inherent in football as it would empower the upcoming generation.
The governor said, “This is the concluding part of the process of establishing Real Madrid Academy in Rivers State. It is our dream to empower our youths through football”.
Another major issue was the celebration of World Food Day in Rivers State on Monday. At the event, Governor Wike announced plans to encourage 20,000 youths of the state to take to agriculture.
The governor who was represented at the event by the secretary to the State Government, Sir Kenneth Kobani, said his administration was partnering with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure that 10,000 youths between the ages of 18-35 accessed agricultural loans.
He also stated that another 10,000 will benefit from the agricultural arrangement the state was making with Siat Nigeria Limited.
“As a government we will continue to encourage our youths to go into agriculture and exploit the opportunities of agriculture,” he said, stressing that the sector has the capacity to employ millions of persons.
“Agriculture alone can employ more people than any other business. The oil industry is nowhere near the agricultural sector. Agriculture has the capacity to employ millions”, he maintained.
Another major development was the approval given to the Rivers State University by the Nigerian University Commission (NUC) to establish a Medical Faculty.
Governor Wike expressed happiness over the approval and noted that it will lead to the full training of Medical Doctors and other health professionals in the state and promised that his administration will invest in the construction and equipping of the College of Medical Sciences of the university.
The governor took time out of the Brick House to attend to activities marking the opening of the 2017/2018 Legal Year.
Chief Wike berated the Federal Government for clamping down on Judges and said that the aim of the Federal Government was to weaken the legal system and lay grounds for wholesome politicisation of the Justice sector in the country.
He expressed disappointment that since 2015, the nation had not seen any single initiative from the Federal Government to either reform, correct real or perceived inefficiencies in the nation’s judicial system.
“Indeed judges appear to have been intimidated to the point where some now find it very uncomfortable to attend even official state functions with governors for fear of being blacklisted and eventually punished.
Other issues that also made influential impacts last week in the Brick House was Governor Wike’s commendation of Rivers Angels Football club for winning the 2017 AITEO cup.
Wike described the team as worthy ambassadors of the state and assured of his administration’s commitment to sports development.
Chris Oluoh
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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