Politics
Wike Delivers More Projects
The celebration of the first 100 Days of Governor Nyesom Wike’s second term administration dominated activities last week in Government House, Port Harcourt.
The celebration which turned out to be a harvest of projects, kicked off last Monday at Old Port Harcourt Township where three roads: Bonny, Adaka Boro, and Elliot Henry streets were inaugurated by the governor.
At the event, Governor Wike declared the intention of his administration to complete the three proposed flyover bridges in sixteen months time. What this means is that by December 2020, the three flyover bridges at Rumuokoro, Artillery , Garrison would have been completed.
The Bonny, Adaka Boro, and Elliot Henry streets road project span 2.8 km and has gutters on both sides.
Last Tuesday , the celebration train was at Ubima community in Ikwerre Local Government Area where a rebranded Community Secondary School Ubima, was officially inaugurated and the name of the school changed to Government Secondary School, Ubima.
The governor assured that he would continue to deliver key projects across the state through out the period of his second term.
“ For us, we shall continue to deliver projects for our people. Our people will continue to see new projects”, he promised.
Inauguration of the world class Cinema facility at Port Harcourt Pleasure Park took place last Wednesday. The governor while commissioning the facility said it has the latest technology in the entertainment industry .
He urged people of the state and Nigeria at large to patronise the cinema instead of travelling to Europe, US and Dubai because it has the same global quality as the ones in advanced countries.
Last Thursday, Governor Wike led top government officials to Emohua Local Government Area for the funeral service in honour of Late Madam Blessing Awuse, mother of Chief Sergeant Awuse.
Describing the burial as a celebration of life, Wike remarked that the late Madam Blessing Awuse lived a fulfilled life and raised disciplined and trust worthy children..
84 Rivers State recognised traditional rulers received certificate of recognition and staff of office from Governor Wike Friday, at Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex, Port Harcourt.
The 84 traditional rulers cut across the first, second, and third class traditional rulers from the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
Wike charged them to use their authority to promote peace and to collaborate with the government in fighting crime in the state. He also warned them not to meddle in politics
At the event which was part of the first 100 Days of Governor Wike’s second term administration, the state chief executive charged the traditional rulers to work with the state government to eradicate cultism.
He warned that the state government would not hesitate to withdraw recognition from any traditional ruler using his authority to promote disharmony.
The celebration train landed at Obio/Akpor and Eleme Local Government Areas on Saturday for the commissioning of the Rumukwurusi- Elelenwo- Akpajo Road constructed by Wike’s administration.
Residents of the communities including children, youths , women and religious groups lined up the road singing praise of the governor who intervened when the area was cut off from the rest of the state as a result of the deplorable condition of the road.
Highpoint of the event was the honouring of Wike with the title of EZE OMEKWELI KIMBOM by the people of Elelenwo community in appreciation of his development agenda in the area.
The Nyeweli of Elelenwo, Sunny Weli Chukwu, also declared September 14 of every year as Elelenwo Day as a mark of remembrance of development agenda of Governor Wike.
Within the week under review, the Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt, led by the Pro Chancellor of the institution, Prof Mvendaga Jibo, paid a courtesy visit to the governor in Government House.
The governor promised to release N200 million to complete the Faculty of Law in the institution and to install electricity and water at the Faculty of Humanities. He directed the state Surveyor General to liaise with the university authorities to map out the land belonging to the university to check encroachment.
Also last week, the committee set up by the state government on private schools approval submitted its report.
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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