Politics
Researcher Tasks Political Leaders On Empowerment
A research fellow at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, (NILDS), Abuja, Dr. Charles Alfred has flayed the lack of proper documentation in the Niger Delta region.
This is as he called on political leaders in the region to make conscious efforts to empower people in the zone who will speak on their behalf and defend them when they would have left public office in the event of any attack directed at them.
Alfred spoke during the public presentation of a book ‘Footprints of Nkpoo Sibara, Dele Giwa and Ken Saro-Wiwa’ written by a Niger Delta activist and author, Patrick Naagbanton in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
He explained that it was one of the reasons the region cry of being marginalised over the years because of the failure of those who have the privilege of holding key political offices to do what was expected of them.
Alfred said, “The people of the Niger Delta have been complaining of marginalisation. But you cannot talk of marginalization when you yourself are not doing the things you are supposed to do for yourself. For instance we do not document our problems.
“We do not document our successes and we do not document and refute allegations against us. That is why the region is so porous in terms of documentation,” he stated.
Dr Alfred who edited the book expressed worry that such cavalier attitude towards documentation may affect the coming generations, saying, “Because we do not document, we and our children and children, children may not get a clear idea of what to follow.
“That is why for an issue like resource control now, it is difficult for one to get a proper definition of that because of the absence of accurate documentation.
“But if you talk about Arewa or the issues that concern the South West, a good number of the people can tell you what they want. So, we (Niger Delta) are suffering from a lot of documentation deficiency. Even in our universities we do not do it. We do not celebrate our own”.
The research fellow expressed unhappiness that nobody is speaking for the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke in all her travails, because she did not empower someone to be her official spokesperson.
Diezani Allison-Madueke do not even have a spokesperson. All the allegations against her like the issue of her health, nobody is talking because she failed to empower any of her people. Spokesperson goes beyond the tenure.
“You must empower the spokesperson. We have a lot of media people in Bayelsa, Rivers State and even the South South. She never deliberately cultivated the help and that is why nobody is talking. That is the problem of documentation I am talking about. All what she did there were no documentation. What we hear is that she is a thief.
“Is she really a thief? What is it she stole? It is not known and cannot blame the journalists that are not from the zone for feasting on it,” the research fellow noted with concerns.” He stated, pointed out that a serving or former President, a serving or former governor as well as minister should have an official spokesperson that will outlive the office.
Today, if you attack the immediate past Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonji Iweala, somebody will come out and refute it. If you attack late former President, Musa Yar’adua, Segun Adeniyi is there.
He however expressed happiness that the book addressed some of these issues, saying, “It is one of the finest works from the Niger Delta. It covers almost fifteen years of our lost history,” describing the book as a must read.
Dennis Naku
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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