Politics
Wike Pledges More Support To Legionnaires
Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrated last week nationwide and issues relating to Nigerian War Heroes and the welfare of their families, dominated activities in Government House, Port Harcourt , last week.
At the Jumaat Service to kick off the celebration penultimate Friday, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, declared the commitment of his administration to work with the armed forces to promote security of lives and property.
Represented at the service by his Special Adviser, Mohamed Aribitonye, the Rivers State Governor commended the armed forces for their contributions and promised that Rivers State Government will continue to support ex-servicemen and the families left behind by war heroes who paid the supreme price defending the country.
Governor Wike led officials of the state government to an interdenominational church service marking the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Rumuepirikom, penultimate Sunday where he implored members of Nigerian Armed Forces to be professional and apolitical
Speaking at the wreath laying ceremony Wednesday at Isaac Boro park, Port Harcourt, the Governor called on Nigerians to unite and motivate Nigerian Armed Forces to defeat the insurgents in the Northeast.
He donated the sum of N100 million for the scholarship of children of fallen heroes to university level and directed Secretary to Rivers State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, to work out modalities on how the state government could further support the Nigerian Legion and soldiers of Rivers State origin who paid the ultimate price.
Recall that last December, Rivers State Government organised an Emblem Appeal Fund Launch at Obi Wali International Conference Center, Port Harcourt for the benefit of the state chapter of the Nigerian Legion.
Chairman, Rivers State Command of the body, Justice Chichi, praised Governor Wike for his extraordinary kindness towards the welfare and support of ex-servicemen and families of fallen heroes.
Also last week, civil servants in the state had reason to celebrate as Governor Wike officially approved the immediate implementation of N30,000 minimum wage and consequential adjustments as approved by the Federal Government.
Another major event in Government House within the week under review was the visit of the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare 11 to Governor Wike.
The Oba who led other traditional rulers from Edo on the visit, appreciated the cordial relationship existing between the people of Edo and the people of Rivers State.
He stated that his visit was in line with the tradition established by his late father aimed at strengthening friendly and close relationship between the peoples, noting that history has it that some of the tribes in Rivers State, as Ikwerre, Ahoada and Omoku, among others traced their ancestry to Benin.
He lauded Governor Wike for the huge progress made in the state, stressing that the Governor remained one person he listened to with passion whenever on news.
In his response, Governor Wike thanked the Oba for the visit and remarked that Benin culture is a source of pride in the sense that it remains intact in the face of Western incursion that has influenced other traditions in the country.
He urged the Oba to initiate regular interactions with other traditional rulers in the region to protect the cultural heritage and development in the region.
Still last week , a delegation of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) was in Brick House on a courtesy visit to the Rivers State Governor.
NMA President, Dr Francis Faduyile, excited by the impressive performance of Governor Wike, described the Governor as the Doyen of Infrastructural Development In Nigeria”.
Represented by the association’s Vice President, Dr Ofem Enang, the President commended the cordial relationship existing between the state government and NMA.
He said that the visit was to intimate the Governor about the forthcoming Nigerian Medical Doctors Games to be hosted in Port Harcourt and solicited for the Governor’s support.
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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