Politics
Gov Restates Commitment To Quality Education
Most of the activites of last weekend in Government House, Port Harcourt centred around the 53rd Independence Anniversary. The celebrations commenced with a non-denominational thanksgiving service at the Rdemption Ministries, Port Harcourt.
Governor Amaechi was however represented by his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru at the church thanksgiving service.
The governor emphasised that Nigeria at 53 years of independence needs leaders who are focused and purposeful to take it to the next level.
“With over 160 million people, Amaechi said “the country is blessed with enormous human and natural resources, which is supposed to be harnessed properly to place it tops among progressive nations in the world”.
On Tuesday, Governor Amaechi returned to the State after spending a week in the United States where he had gone to receive an Award given to him by Black Writers in Diaspira.
Shortly after his arrival, Rt. Hon. Amaechi attended the Independence Anniversary march past at the Elekahia Stadium in Port Harcourt where he addressed the mommoth crowd that participated in the ceremony.
According to him “we must come together as a people to chase away those who want to turn Rivers State into a military state. This state is identified by an elected government and we must indentify with a civilian government. We will not allow what is going on to continue”.
The governor’s speech came barely one week after the Police barred newly employed 13,000 teachers to gather at the Liberation Stadium where they were supposed to pick up their posting letters.
While thanking Rivers people for participating in the National Day Anniversary, Amaechi however assured school children of his administration’s commitment to promote quality education including infrastructure development.
On Wednesday, a member of the House of Representatives, Chief Andrew Uchendu addressed pressmen over an alleged assault on him, by former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Rt. Hon Austin Opara at Abuja International Airport.
Chief Uchendu who is the Chairman of Rivers Caucus in the National Asembly claimed that Hon. Opara accosted and insulted him in the presence of the member representing, Ahoada-West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency, Honourable Asita.
On the late night of Thursday, Governor Chibuike Amaechi and other five states of the South-South namely – Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Edo, Delta, Cross River under the aegis of BRACED States met to review policies and programmes.
Chairman of the BRACED States, Senator Liyel Imoke addressed pressmen after the meeting which ended last Friday morning in Benin, capital of Edo State. He reiterated the plan by the governors to pursue the infrastructural and educational development of the South-South.
On Friday, the Governor and his wife, Dame Judith Amaechi made a press statement over the shocking news of former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry.
Dame Amaechi described the late lawmaker as an embodiment of friendship and a lawmaker per excellence who had distinguished himself and provided quality representation in the state.
For Rivers State Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru, “the news of the death of my friend and brother Tonye Harry came to me as a shock. In his death, Rivers State and indeed Nigeria have lost an erudite politician par excellence”.
Also reacting to Rt. Hon. Harry’s sudden demise, Governor Amaechi remarked, “I’ am still traumatised by the sad news of the death of Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry. Still find it impossible to come to terms that Tonye is no more”.
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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