Politics
Amaechi Mourns Eke, Briggs
Last week, the state lost two of its prominent sons, who
helped shape its political fortunes in the Second Republic. Former deputy governor and Eze Oha Evo, Dr. Frank Eke and former Speaker of the Rivers state House of Assembly from 1979 – 1983, Rt. Hon. Rosebery Briggs.
Governor Chibuike Amaechi paid condolence visits to both families last week Monday. He said of Eze Frank Eke, “I saw in him a man of great qualities, a wonderful character that you see that is full of honesty, you know him as a man that when he tells you I’am with you, he is with you”.
Amaechi further recalled the political contributions made by the deceased towards the enthronement of Goodluck Jonathan as the country’s President in the 2011 elections. He added that the Evo Monarch lived a fulfilled life and promised that his administration would contribute to give the the deceased a befitting burial. Shortly after, he paid a condolence visit to the family of late former Speaker Rt. Hon. Rosebary Briggs.
On Tuesday , Governor Amaechi presented the 2014 budget to the State House of Assembly at the old Government House Auditorium. About 26 House members were present to receive the Appropriation Bill.
The budget totals N485.524 billion and is N4.797 billion less than that of last year. The major thrust is to complete ongoing projects with a recurrent expenditure of N117.09 billion.
Few hours after deliberating on the budget, the House led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree passed the bill. Deputy Speaker, Barrister Leyii Kwane said the House took the action as a matter of expediency to ensure that governance is not truncated in the state.
On Wednesday, Rt. Hon. Amaechi signed the budget into law and commended members of the House for rising to the challenge of governance and defending democracy. He also promised that the government would ensure that all monies are spent according to the letter of the budget.
On the same Wednesday, Governor Amaechi received the Governing Council of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology led by its Pro-Chancellor, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte. He later proceeded to the New Year Civil Service Prayer Day held at the Secretariat Complex, Port Harcourt.
Governor Amaechi commended Civil Servants for the support they have given to his administration, and promised that henceforth government would no longer make deductions from their salaries and would implement policies and programmes that would improve their lots. He gave the sum of N300 million as Christmas/New Year gifts to Civil Servants in the state.
On Thursday, shortly before embarking on projects tour with some foreign journalists, Governor Amaechi attended Ministers Prayer Network International at the Civic Centre Port Harcourt.
The Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum welcomed different participants who attended the programme all over Nigeria and beyond. He enjoined them to pray for his administration. “I believe that if all of you cry to God on my behalf God will hear”.
Later on Thursday, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari briefed newsmen on the alleged plot by supervising Minister of education, Nyesom Wike to obtain a court judgement to halt the implementation of the 2014 budget.
Semenitari noted that the alleged plan which is geared toward grounding governance in the state was being hatched to stop the monthly federal allocation to the State, she warned that if such plot succeeds then it would throw the state into more crisis.
On the same Thursday, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Amaechi Mr. David Iyofor, also briefed newsmen over ownership of Soku Oil Wells.
Mr. Iyofor described the statement as a ploy to twist the facts saying, “the facts on the Rivers State ownership of the Soku Oil Wells are immutable, no matter how the Bayelsa State Governor tries to stretch, twist or Spin them.
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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