Politics
Govt House In Retrospect
Last week started on a thanksgiving and dedication service held at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt.
The service witnessed the presence of “Who is who” in Rivers State with the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and popular evangelist Dr Umah Ukpai offering special prayers for the state.
Pastor Adeboye said the good things currently being experienced in the state is because of God’s infinite mercy on the leaders and therefore noted that thanksgiving remains the route to attract more blessings.
Governor Amaechi in his remarks reassured the people of the state of his zeal to move the state to greater heights, “to ensure that the impoverished majority of Rivers people live a better life.”
He challenged those accusing him of over handedness to a public debate, saying that since his assumption of office in October 2007, he has utilised the state’s resources for the good of the people.
Just a day after the thanksgiving, lecturers and students from the Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku came on a protest to Government House over incessant abduction of their members by kidnappers in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
The protesting lecturers were led by the College’s Academic Staff under the chairman Comrade Chima Geofrey, who lamented that over nine lecturers of the college have been abducted since last year.
Comrade Geofrey, who placed request of the protesters before the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mr Fortune Oguru, called for quick and immediate action to check the menace, saying that the school may shut down if the criminal act persists.
The College of Education, ASU Chairperson also called for total overhaul of the security network in the area, hinting that so far, the efforts being made by the authority have failed to check the problem.
Responding to the protesters, the Permanent Secretary said the state government was aware of the problem and has put measures in place to curb the criminals.
He said, “the Rivers State Government has spent so much money on security because of the value it attaches to its citizens.
Mr Oguru assured them that their requests would be tabled before the governor, who was away on official assignment to a meeting of Nigerian Governors Forum in Abuja.
Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the Governor’s Forum on Tuesday night, Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Amaechi unveiled plans by the body to commence another phase of polio eradication nationwide.
The NGF, according to Amaechi, would also seek for a Supreme Court interpretation and resolve of issue relating to the adjudication of the Excess Crude Account.
NGF equally gave a unanimous “vote of confidence” on the leadership of Governor Amaechi, while disclosing plans to organise a retreat on security of the country.
On Wednesday, the last State Executive Council meeting for 2012 was held to discuss State matters, and Rivers State Government protested over the poor handling of the boundary adjustment dispute between it and Bayelsa State.
Represented by his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru at a meeting held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the governor insisted that we must strive to maintain the peace which has existed from time “immemorial,” urging both parties to imbibe the principle of peace and harmony.
On Thursday, Governor Amaechi also spoke through the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari at a state Trade Union Triennial Conference held in Port Harcourt.
The Rivers State Governor reminded labour not to jettison the ideals of fighting for workers and bettering the welfare of the masses.
Also during the period under review, the governor attended a special meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on states with high prevalence of HIV/AIDs infection. The meeting was expected to chart a new course on how to check the scourge.
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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