Politics
Lawmaker Accuses Bayelsa Elders Of Greed
A member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon, Jonathan Ogbuebite, has accused some elders in the state of greediness and demanding from the state government a monthly allowance of five million naira each as a reward for championing the creation of the state in 1996.
Mr Ogbuebite, representing Nembe Constituency One and also the Chief Whip in the House also alleged that some of the elders are contractors who refused to executive developmental projects awarded to them in the past.
Disclosing this at the Inaugural Annual Public lecture organized by the Federated Correspondents Chapel, an arm of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State Council, the Chief Whip said a letter to this effect has been forwarded to the Assembly.
Seeking for the enactment of law to this effect, the affected elders, according to the lawmaker demanded that same gesture should be extended to their children after their demise.
Hon. Ogbuebite disclosed that over 90 per cent of the elders making this demands reside outside the state, but wanted to benefit from the state without contributing their own quota as expected of them.
Apart from residing outside the state, the lawmaker said that over 60 per cent of them were beneficiaries of the contract awarded to indigenous contractors at the inception of the present administration but it was sadden to note that most of these contracts were abandoned.
He said rather thinking of what would I benefit from government, we should all be ready to make useful contribution to the growth of the society.
His words, ‘let’s think of what we contribute to the government not only what the government will do for us.”
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Ambassador Emmanuel Otiotio, stressed the need for transformational leadership as against the transactional leadership being practiced by some African nations.
Making reference to the style of leadership of the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, Otiotio described his style of leadership as not only acceptable but transformational.
Most Africa leaders are like Biblical Esau who imbibed the culture of kill and eat without making provision for tomorrow; the Special Adviser stressed the need for the people at the helm of affairs to create opportunities that would transform their respective societies.
His words, “election will come and go, but we need to build institutions that will lead to the transformation of the society. We don’t need that hunter mentality that we go to people at night because of election.”
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Hon. Magnus Abe said, ‘as leaders we have seen the gains of democracy, there is need for us to reduce the pains on the part of the people will governed. The more the people benefit from the gains, the more the success of democracy.
On security, he said government was spending so much in securing the lives of political appointees, adding that this should be reduced by licensing private security outfit, and as well making beneficiaries to pay for it.
In his address, the Chairman of the Federated Correspondents Chapel, Kola Oredipe said journalists in the state were committed to adding value to the system by making useful contribution to nation building.
His words, the contribution of the media to the enthronement of democracy in the Country is no doubt commendable and this fact had been acknowledged by various stakeholders in the Country.
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.