Politics
Wike Inaugurates Committee On Environment Varsity
Conversion of Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, to a full-fledged University was one of the major issues that dominated discussions last week in the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.
Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, last Wednesday, set up an ad-hoc committee to examine and advise the state government on the idea of upgrading the existing Ken Polytechnic to University of Environment.
The governor’s action was sequel to the request made by the Ogoni apex group, KAGOTE, that the polytechnic be upgraded to University of Environment as a legacy to the struggle of the foremost environmental right activist in Nigeria, Ken Saro-Wiwa hails from Ogoni.
Wike who hosted the high powered delegation of KAGOTE last Tuesday presented the proposal at the Rivers State Executive Council meeting in Government House, Port Harcourt Wednesday, for approval.
The committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo has two weeks to submit its report. It would examine the prospects of transforming the polytechnic into the third state-owned university.
Another crucial event last week was the governor’s accent to the Rivers State Neighbourhood watch bill on Wednesday.
Recall that penultimate week, the governor had promised that he would sign the bill into law stressing that the law will help the security agencies get intelligence and information from the initiative.
He also said it would create employment opportunities to the youth adding that the insinuation that the government has motive of arming youths as false.
Last Tuesday, Wike hosted the Assistant Inspector General of Police zone six.
The AIG who came in company of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police and other top security officials said he was in the state to seek collaboration with the state government on how to bring about improved security.
Last Thursday, the Governor led the management of the leadership Newspaper, members fo the National Assembly and Elder statesmen on projects inspection.
Wike who is set for honour on March 29, 2018 as the Leadership Newspaper Governor of the year 2017 declared that majority of key projects would be delivered between May and December.
Among projects inspected were Port Harcourt Pleasure Park Cinema and Restaurants, Cultural Centre, Creek Road, Bonny/Bille/Nember Jetty, Judges Guaters, Mother and Child Hospital, Produce House, Court of Appeal and National Industiral Court.
Speaking on behalf of the Leadership Group, Director Leadership Group, Mr. Michael Okpere commended the governor for turning Rivers State into a major construction site.
He said: “These projects generate employment, they generate revenue and they create employment opportunities for the people”.
The governor, last week flagged off some projects among which are upgrading and remodeling of Bonny National Grammer School Bonny.
He noted that the project will be completed in nine months and that all the contractors handling the job are indigenes of Bonny.
“None of the contractors doing this job is from outside. This is to show that we are interested in empowering the people”, he said.
Wike regretted that the APC-led Federal Government was playing pranks with the Bonny-Bodo Road project after NLNG committed N50 billion as counterpart fund to the project.
While the upgrading and remodeling of the Bonny National Grammer School (BMGS). Bonny was flagged off last Tuesday, Wike on Wednesday flagged off the execution of Rivers State Government, European Union and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Water and sanitation projects in two local government areas.
The flag off was done at Nkoro Town School in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, where he stated that his administration is committed to the provision of potable water for rural dwellers.
The governor was represented at the event by the Commissioner of Water Resources, Prof Kaniye Ebeku.
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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