Politics
Electrocuted Boy, 12, Petitions RVHA
Last week, the State Assembly received a petition on a 12- year – old Rivers State indigene and a Junior Secondary School student of Government Secondary School, Oroworukwo, Master Uchechukwu Ewurum who resides at Ojoto Street, Diobu, Port Harcourt with his parents .
The petition, presented on the floor of the House by Hon Augustine Ngo, alleged that Master Uchechukwu is a victim of electrocution, caused by a high tension wire, which got severed from a Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), facility, near their home.
The petition said the wire with high electric current was left dangling until it rested on the handrail of the victims rented apartment.
On the fateful day, the boy had run out to welcome his mother and unfortunately touched the handrail of the apartment electrocuted him.
Although, he is still alive, he has lost his right hand from the shoulder down, has a sore tummy and suffers memory loss.
The parents of Uchechukwu are so poor that they cannot afford to pay the medical bills.
According to the petition, PHCN has not shown any sympathy or interest in the matter and the parents do not have money to sue PHCN for criminal negligence and therefore, appealed to the Assembly to intervene.
Another petition by Prince Chinedu Agu and presented by Hon Irene Inimgba, representing Port Harcourt Constituency II, alleged that a property belonging to the petitioner was demolished by Rev Mina Aprioku and the land relocated to another person.
Mr Agu said he properly acquired the land before erecting a three, bedroom structure on it.
According to him, trouble started when Rev. Mina Aprioku demanded N1m from him to be given to the permanent secretary or risk demolition of his structure. While efforts to seek clarification on the demand for such amount was going on and the inability to raise the money, Rev Aprioku allegedly ordered the destruction of his property under the pretext of directive the State Governors.
Unfortunately, soon after, the land was sold to Mr Boma Obuferibo by Rev Mina Aprioku. He, therefore, prayed the State Assembly to come to his aid as the police that initially intervened following his complaint on the matter had now been bought over.
Speaker, Rt. Hon Otelemaba Amachree directed the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions to handle them and report back to the House soon.
An interating source on Wednesday sitting was the appearance of three Commissioners of Environment, Mr Nyema Weli, Speical Duties, Mr Dickson Omunakwe, and Inforamtion, Mrs Ibim Semenitari to brief the lawmakers on their level of preparedness towards the predicted heavy rainfall that would cause flooding.
Responding to questions, Mr Dickson Omunakwe failed to provide necessary details about the 2012 flood handling in the State on the grounds that he assumed office on January 16, 2013.
He, however, disclosed that N30million was approved by the flood committee to produce seedlings and suckers for distribution to farmers in the affected local government areas.
Mr Nyema Weli, who suggested dredging of the Nyer and Orashi rivers to reduce volume of water, however, failed to remember the name of any of the communities affected by flood that he visited.
The Information and Communciation Commissioner, Mrs Semenitari told the House that her Ministry had mapped out plans to use electronicard, print media, bill board, town criers to enlighten the public on the predicted flooding for 2013 by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
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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