Politics
Wike Seeks Unity Of Christians
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has called on Christians to remain united as a body of Christ bound in a common faith.
Governor Wike made the call Friday, when His Eminence, Baba Aladura, Dr David Bobmanuel, Moses Orimolade 1X and Prelate of the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Port Harcourt.
The Governor stated that being united will not only strengthen their faith but will also lead to rapid expansion of the church.
“There are too many divisions in the faith. Look at the Christian Association of Nigeria in Rivers State, it has been divided into factions.This is not necessary.
“We cannot be the body of Christ and we are not working together. Working as a team will make the church grow faster than it is doing right now”, said the governor.
He reaffirmed that Rivers State is a Christian state and that his administration is in partnership with the church, hence, he would support the church in its programmes.
He urged the church to join his administration in its fight against negative impact of cultism in the state.
Wike congratulated the Baba Aladura on his emergence as the Prelate of the Eternal Order of Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide, noting that as a Rivers man, Rivers people were proud of him.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation , His Eminence, Dr David Bobmanuel, said they were in the state for the International Youth Conference of the church.
He thanked the governor for his administration’s consistent support to the Christian community.
The Baba Aladura also congratulated the governor on his election victories and monumental achievements recorded so far and urged the governor to use the second term to consolidate on his first term achievements.
Last week, the Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Engineer Emeka Woke, was honoured with a Special Birthday Church Service at the First Baptist Church , Rumuoakunde, in Emohua Local Government Area.
The Service was organised by Mr Israel Uchendu and his family. Friends, well wishers and top government officials were in attendance.
The Chief of Staff thanked God for his blessing over the years and vowed to continue to serve God and humanity all the days of his life.
In his sermon, Rev Harrison Igwe Icho, urged people to always make God, the object of their worship, so as to attract several blessings.
Also in the week under review, the Chief of Staff, was among dignitaries that attended this year’s edition of Egwu Ogba, the traditional New Yam Annual Festival of Erema Ancient Town in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area held last Tuesday.
He commended the Paramount ruler of Erema , Eze Azubuike Princewill and the people of the area for promoting their rich culture.
Woke further called on traditional rulers to partner the state government to ensure sustained peace across the state.
He urged traditional rulers to key into the Operation Sting to promote security in all communities in the state, stressing that the state government will not tolerate any form of cultism or insecurity in any community.
He stated that Rivers State Government was working hard to build investors’ confidence in the state to boost youth employment.
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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