Politics
Wike Garners More Awards
Last week, campaigns dominated activities in Government House, Port Harcourt as Peoples Demoncratic Part (PDP) rallies moved from one local government area of the state to the other.
The PDP state campaign was flagged off in Tai Local Government Area on Wednesday with a promise by the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike that the state would construct a General Hospital in the area.
Addressing a mammoth crowd that attended the rally, the governor said the hospital project would commence before the 2019 general elections.
He explained that over the last three years and half his administration, has put in place key projects in the area and promised to do more in his second term.
He commended the people of Tai for the support they have given to his administration and urged them to vote for the PDP candidates in the forthcoming general elections in the country and to also defend their votes.
Last Thursday the campaign train moved to Eleme Local Government Area where the governor told the people not to vote for APC because the party has not done anything towards developing the area in spite of the huge contributions it made in the economy of the nation.
Wike enjoined the people of Eleme local government to vote for the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar and other candidates of PDP in the forthcoming elections, stressing that PDP would revive the seaports in the area which President Buhari allowed to rot away.
The rally moved down to Omuma and Etche Local Government Area on Friday and Saturday respectively.
The governor said President Muhammad Buhari made high sounding promises only to deliberately refuse to keep to his promise.
“ The new name of the APC is All Promises Cancelled. There is no single promise that has been fulfilled by the APC federal government. For us in Rivers State, we don’t know if there is a federal government”, the governor said.
He commended the people of Omuma for their support to the party and noted that his administration has kept its promises by electrifying 19 communities, construction of a zonal hospital and the ongoing construction of a 17 kilometer road across several communities.
He called on the people to vote for the PDP Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, saying that he has the business acumen to turn the nation’s economy around and create employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths.
The floodgate of Governor Wike’s awards opened again last week as he was nominated for three awards today.
The National Executive Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ) nominated Wike for the NUJ Prize for Outstanding Achievement In Leadership and Infrastructural Development.
NUJ National President announced this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Governor today in Government House, Port Harcourt.
In similar manner, Chairman of Daar Communications Plc, operators of African Independent Television, Raypower FM, and Faaji FM, Mr Raymond Dokpesi Jnr announced the nomination of Wike as the first overall Daar Communication Plc ‘Governor of the year 2018’
The management of Independent Newspapers also announced that Governor Wike has been nominated for their own award.
Wike commended the three media groups for the honour bestowed on him and charged them to always speak out against issues that undermine rule of law, saying that was the only way he could fully appreciate the honour.
Another major event that took place in the Brick House last week was the swearing in of 15 new Special Advisers to the governor.
At the event which took place, today at the Executive Chambers of the Government House, the governor also swore in the Chairman of Rivers State Pension Board, Prof Ovundah Okene as well as members of the board, Rivers State Housing and Property Development Authority.
Chris Oluoh
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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