Politics
Atiku, Dickson, Others Mourn Aguma
As activities lined up for the burial of the late Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Rivers State, Hon. Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), commence Wednesday, more top personalities and groups besieged Governemnt House, Port Harcourt last week on condolence visits to the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Among them were the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, the Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and the South-South Forum of Attorneys-General and Commissioners of Jsutice.
Abubakar who paid condolence visit on Wednesday described the demise of Aguma as shocking.
“The loss of the Attorney-General of Rivers State was shocking news to us. This is because of our relationship with the state,” he said.
He regretted that the country would miss the services of a legal luminary as Aguma and prayed God to give the family, Government and people of the state the fortitude to bear the loss.
In similar vein, Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Pastor Kemela Okara said news of the death of the Attorney-General was shocking.
He said that the affinity between the people of Rivers and Bayelsa States is such that whatever affects one, affects the other and assured Wike of Bayelsa’s active participation in the burial.
Last Tuesday, the chairman of the Board of NDDC, Senator Ndoma Egba led the board and management of the commission to Government House, Port Harcourt on a condolence visit to Governor Wike.
Describing late Aguma as a thorough bred professional who contributed to the development of the Niger Delta region, said “As a commission, we share in your grief. His death is a sad loss for the Niger Delta region because Aguma was an outstanding legal practitioner from the region,” and prayed God to grant the people of Rivers State the fortitude to bear the great loss.
Chairman of the Northern Elder Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdulahi conveyed the condolences of the forum during a visit to Governor Wike last Friday in Government House.
Describing death as a necessary end for every human being Abdulahi stressed the need for everyone to work towards improving the society while alive. He urged Rivers people to be consoled by the worthy legacies left by the late Aguma.
South-South Forum of Attorneys-General and Commissioners of Justice paid a condolence visit to Wike last Monday over the passage of their colleague, Hon. Emmanuel Aguma.
Secretary of the forum and Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State Mr Uwemedimo Nwoko said the news of the death of late Aguma broke like an enemy bomb on their WhatsApp platform.
Describing it as an unquantifiable loss to the Niger Delta region, Nwoko noted that Aguma’s death was in comprehensible and inexplicable.
He said Aguma was, “fearless and believed in responsibilities” and a strong believer in the fight for justice in the Niger Delta.
In each of the visits, Wike eulogized late Aguma for his commitment to the course of the state and loyalty to his administration and commended the visitors for identifying with Rivers State at trial moments and circumstance provoked by the loss of its valued Attorney-General.
Chris Oluoh
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.
-
News2 days agoRSG Targets Nine Million Residents in Mosquito Net Distribution Campaign
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoAiyedatiwa Signs New Electricity Bill
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoNLNG Commissions Research And Innovation Centre In RSU
-
Maritime2 days agoMarine Minister Commends President Tinubu On NPERA Bill Assent
-
News2 days agoKenPoly Holds Eight Convocations, August 29
-
News2 days agoRSG Begins Another Phase of Projects Commissioning Today
-
News2 days agoRMAFC Completes Revenue Sharing Review, Proposes New Pay
-
Maritime2 days agoNAGAFF Petitions IGP Over Alleged Maritime Police Harassment