Politics
Etche People Hail Amaechi
The people of Etche Local Government Area last week
poured economiums on Governor Chibuike Amaechi for elevating two traditional stools in the area to a first class status. The third one was raised to a second class status and covers Ozuzu Clan.
Commending Governor Amaechi for the gesture, Eze Ogbuga 1 of Etche, Chief Ambrose Nwuzi said “as an individual and for all the things Amaechi has done for Etche people this one is the climax”.
He revealed that the agitation for the elevation of traditional stools in the area began during the regime of Group Captin Sam Ewang, and that even when Dr. Peter Odili’s administration came to power, the Etche people tried without success .
Nwuzi said that the Etche people were happy with the governor for elevating the stools of Agwuru Igbo-Etche and Mba Clans to first class status, but noted that more stools needed to be upgraded in Omuma, Ulakwo and Ozuzu Clans.
On his part, Onyisi Agwuru of Ozuzu Clan, Eze M.R.A. Amaechi noted that the governor had shown love to the people of Etche, “We are praying that he overcomes all – calamity before him”, he prayed.
Returning to the State on Monday, Governor Chibuike Amaechi convened a State Executive Council meeting. Shortly after the meeting, Commissioner for Information and Communications dismissed claims by the Grassroot Democratic Initiative (GDI) that six Commissioners were about to defect to the group.
Semenitari described the claims as false and misleading, as she assured that the State Executive Council was still intact, strong and committed to the administration of Governor Amaechi.
Governor Amaechi on Tuesday attended the inauguration of the Sokoto State University in Sokoto. The governor returned to the state after the programme.
On the same Tuesday, Senator representing Rivers South-East District, Magnus Ngei Abe gave stipends to 40 law graudates from the Senatorial District who are to proceed to the Law School.
Abe explained that the gesture was not a constituency project, but rather a way of assisting indigent students in pursuing their studies.
Recalling his experience, Abe said: “I almost did not go to Law School. I had gotten a friend who had agreed I would live in their house, and I had gotten some support but even the transport to go to Lagos I did not have”.
He continued, “I have come to realise that when you are at a critical junction, it is not N1 million that would help you rather it’s that small intervention coming at the very time that you need it that constitutes the difference between success and failure”.
The governor was at hand to receive President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa. Dr. Jonathan was in the State to attend the burial of the late foster mother of his wife, Mrs Charity Fyneface Oba.
Shortly after receiving the President and his entourage, Governor Amaechi and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Seriake Dickson joined the President in a helicopter that flew them to Okrika Town, venue of the burial.
President Jonathan and his wife were conferred with Chieftaincy titles by the Amadabo of Ogoloma, HRH Emmanuel Obudibo (Ikwo V). Dr. Jonathan was conferred with the title of “Se Lolia 1”, meaning moonlight of the nation, while his wife was given the title of “Se Yingibo”, mother of the nation.
On Friday, Governor Amaechi received Vice President, Namadi Sambo, Senate President, David mark and other state functionaries who were in the state to attend the last burial rites of Mrs Fyneface Oba, foster mother of the first lady. The governor also attended the funceral service held at Okrika at the weekend.
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.
-
News3 days agoRSG Targets Nine Million Residents in Mosquito Net Distribution Campaign
-
Oil & Energy3 days agoAiyedatiwa Signs New Electricity Bill
-
Maritime3 days agoMarine Minister Commends President Tinubu On NPERA Bill Assent
-
Oil & Energy3 days agoNLNG Commissions Research And Innovation Centre In RSU
-
News3 days agoKenPoly Holds Eight Convocations, August 29
-
News3 days agoRSG Begins Another Phase of Projects Commissioning Today
-
News3 days agoRMAFC Completes Revenue Sharing Review, Proposes New Pay
-
Maritime3 days agoNAGAFF Petitions IGP Over Alleged Maritime Police Harassment