Politics
Wike Harps On Religious Tolerance
Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt, which is known for its beehive of activities recorded low events last week. Significant drop in the number of activities has remained the case since curtain closed on the third anniversary celebration of Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration, few weeks ago.
However, the Governor used the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir, celebrated by Muslims last Tuesday and Wednesday to call on Nigerians to embrace religious tolerance as to promote peace across the country and enhance national development.
The call was contained in his Sallah message. Noting that Eid-el-Kabir is a season of love, peace, togetherness and sacrifice, the Governor prayed God to use the Sallah period to impact positively on the lives of Nigerians.
He felicitated with Nigerian Muslims and charged them to emulate the Holy Prophet Mohammed by imbibing the ideals of sacrifice exemplified by the prophet.
Wike particularly thanked the muslim community in Rivers State for the consistent support to his administration, assuring them of continued partnership of his administration in order to move the state forward.
He equally assured the people and residents of the state that the state government would work with the security agencies to ensure that all citizens celebrate the Sallah in peace and harmony.
As the death of the Attorney-General of the state, Honourable Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), continue to attract visitors from far and near to the Brick House, a delegation of the national working committee and board of trustees of the Peoples Demotratic Party (PDP) paid a condolence visit on Governor Wike last Thursday.
The delegation, which was led by the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus described the death of Aguma as painful.
“We received the news at the national headquarters with shock. It was very painful, especially when we remember his activities during the two national conventions in Port Harcourt.
“We recall that he was the chairman of the screening committee of the party during those conventions. He did a very wonderful job,” Secondus said.
Late Aguma served the party as screening committee chairman during the national conventions which were held in Port Harcourt.
Secondus remarked that during the trying times of the party, the late Aguma applied his professional competence to assist the party.
In his response, Governor Wike thanked the delegation for the visit and urged them to participate in the burial activities of the legal icon as a mark of honour.
He said since 1998, late Aguma remained a loyal member of PDP who never defected at anytime, adding that he (Aguma) was committed, trusted and served the state to the best of his ability.
“With your condolence visit, we are comforted that our friends are with us at this trying moment,” Wike said.
He charged all PDP members to unite and work for the victory of the party in 2019 as a tribute to the late legal giant who was a committed party man.
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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