Politics
National Confab: Rivers Delegates Told To Protect State Interest
As the National
Conference kicks off in Abuja, today, Rivers State delegates to the conference have been advised to protect the interest of the state above their personal, socio – political or ethnic interests.
They were also warned not to allow their differences to becloud the pursuit for equity, justice, fairness and peace for the state and nation at large.
Rising from a mini conference which was organised by the Rivers Mainstream Coalition (RMC) at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt last Saturday, all speakers were unanimous that delegates should not be influenced by the current political cleavage in the state, saying that they were not there to respresent any political party but the interest of the Rivers people.
A 19-point resolution was drafted at the end of the conference which had Elder Gomba Osarollor, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the old Rivers State as Chairman with Chief A. K. Horsefall, former Chairman of OMPADEC and former Director of State Security Service presenting the key note address.
Central to the issues discussed was the position of Rivers people on resource control, fiscal federalism, peace and security, protection of the environment from wanton and brazen destruction, among others.
The speakers which also include Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Prof. Israel Owaite, Sen. Benet Birabi, Dr. Sofiri Peterside, Chief Tom Big-Harry, Mrs. Nimi Tom-Manuel, Hon. (Barr) Nimi Walson Jack, Dr. Briggs Damabo, Faye Dikio (SAN), Sara Igbe and Dr. Ben Ohia, were unequivocal in their support for a fiscal federalism where the federating units would contribute 50% of proceeds from its controlled resources to the central government.
Chief A.K. Horsefall who is the only Rivers delegate present at the mini conference, praised the Rivers Mainstream Coalition for initiating the event.
“If we segment ourselves, as we do at the moment, we get smaller. But if we do what you are doing today, we will advance and make much impact” he said.
Horsefall disclosed that his nomination to the conference was predicated on his security expertise, adding that although he was called upon essentially for security input, he would not be indifferent to lending his voice to issues of interest to Rivers State.
On the issue of fiscal federalism, the security expert said he had reservation about federating the country on basis of the six geo-political regions as, according to him, “it may work for the South East and South West because of common language and cultures, but may not be feasible in South South and the north because of diversity of language and cultures.”
Similarly, Faye Dikio (SAN) differed slightly on the issue of resource control and called for the abrogation of the Land Use Act which vested all lands on the government. This, according to him, would ensure a realistic control of resources by the federating units. He also advocated the repeal of the Oil Minerals Act.
Groups who participated at the event were Etche Ethnic Nationality ‘Voice of Rivers Citizens’, ‘I See You’ and Ogba ethnic nationality.
The communiqué read in part, “That the interest of ethnic nationalities having lived together in peace, should continue to be bound together in peace in a society in which political representations are broadly and equitably distributed. That we wish to control our resources in the state and have fiscal federation.
“That we want to own our lands and want the Land Use Act repealed. That we want the federation restructured to give more powers to the federating states. That states should have the powers to create the number of local government areas they can manage. That there is need to diversify the economy from oil and create wealth from other sectors. That we want a unicameral legislature and not a bicameral.
“That traditional rulers should have constitutional responsibilities. Obnoxious laws such as the Petroleum Act, Land Use Act, Pipeline Act, Mineral Resources Act etc, that inhibit the rights of our people be expunged and the Petroleum Industry Bill should be passed.”
Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (2nd left) obeying National Anthem. With him are former Prime Minister of Ireland, His Excellency John Bruton (2nd right), former British Foreign Secretary, His Excellency Jack Straw (right) and Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Engr. Tele Ikuru (left) during an International Conference on Democracy and Good Governance, organised by Rivers State government at Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson
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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