Politics
Restructuring: Buhari Fooled Nigerians In 2015 -Oyinlola
Chairman of Steering Committee of the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, yesterday, accused President Muhammadu Buhari of selling a dummy to Nigerians with a promise to restructure the country if elected in the 2015 elections.
Prince Oyinlola, who dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2017 alongside other bigwigs over alleged marginalisation, urged Nigerians to vote massively for Atiku in order to bring back prosperity, peace and a stable economy.
Speaking at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential rally in Osogbo, the Osun state capital, the former governor said when they were campaigning for Buhari in 2015, restructuring was one of the major planks the campaign was anchored on, lamenting however that the President soon abandoned the initiative after winning the election.
He chided President Buhari for failing to fulfil the key campaign promise he made that lured Nigerians into voting for him. He said, “We have to be conscious of the fact that we have been deceived.
“When Buhari was coming to government, he promised and told us that one of his cardinal focus was restructuring. When he came to power, he told us that he does not know or understand the meaning of restructuring.
That is a clean, clear deceit.
“He promised us security. When he came in, we had problem with Boko Haram in Borno state, but today there is hardly any part of the country where security challenges are not present.
It has come to a point where a governor is asking for emergency rule. In fact the governor of Katsina state lamented that he was overwhelmed with security situation.
“If Buhari cannot provide security in his own state, do you think he would provide it in Osun state? That is why I’m telling you that we should think and vote the man who knew restructuring from the beginning”.
Also speaking, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, in a veiled reference to what happened during the Osun governorship election, said Nigerians will never again permit the theft of their votes, under any guise.
“Never again will they steal the mandate of the people, never again will they steal the mandate of Osun state. They stole it temporarily but by the grace of God that will be restored.
“We warn the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the security agencies to be neutral.
“Now you have to be prepared to vote and defend your vote as all Nigerians votes will count. All your votes will count, no rigging at all. On the 16 of February, don’t just vote Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, but vote all the PDP candidates, “ Secondus said.
He welcomed, on behalf of the party, the new Acting Inspector General of Police, Muhammad Adamu, urging him to “clean up the mess of the former IGP, Ibrahim Idris.
“We encourage you to serve Nigerians and the institutions to protect the people and not to secure a section of people, not to secure a cabal, but to secure all Nigerians,” he added.
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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