Politics
Council Boss Tasks Tinubu On N’Delta Dev, Hails Fubara, Others
Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Council of Rivers State, Dr Enyiada Cookey-Gam, has called on the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently reorganize the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and its affiliate agencies for greater efficiency, productivity and more purposeful service delivery.
While exchanging views with journalists, recently, in Port Harcourt, Dr Cookey-Gam appealed to the Federal Government to come to the rescue of the people of the Niger Delta region by providing up to date infrastructural facilities such as roads, qualitative and affordable housing, constant power supply, efficient and affordable healthcare, as well as functional educational institutions and agricultural programmes to ease hunger, poverty and unemployment in the area.
He stressed that the deplorable condition of federal roads in the region had been the major cause of many avoidable accidents and deaths, adding that the situation was not only insensitive but a less than commensurate reward for the huge contributions of the region to the economy of the country.
Dr Cookey Gam also drew the attention of the Federal Government to the prevalence of preventable and treatable diseases and opportunistic infections leading to needles loss of lives due to the shortage of functional hospitals and the total collapse of existing ones.
He urged the President and his team, including political leaders at all levels to step up measures to provide adequate security for the people as well as empowerment for the Youths in the region to guarantee quality education and self-reliance in order to eradicate illiteracy and curtail its attendant social and economic crises.
Dr Cookey-Gam maintained that the Niger Delta people deserved a better deal than they had gotten from the central government over the years and expressed the hope that the administration of President Tinubu will correct the age long injustice, deprivation and marginalisation the people have endured.
The local government boss implored the President and relevant governmental agencies to give listening ears to the yearnings and aspirations of the people in their quest to change the ugly developmental narrative of the badly impacted region.
Meanwhile, Dr Enyiada Cookey-Gam, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; his Vice, Senator Kashim Shettima; Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara; his Deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu; Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, Senator Barinada Mpigi; member representing Andoni/Opobo/ Nkoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr Awaji Inombek Abiante and member representing Opobo/Nkoro State Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Adolphus Orubienimigha on their assumption of office, describing their emergence as the will of God and the people.
Dr Cookey-Gam urged them to do their best in order to build better bridges of development for the people in the next four years and assured them of his administration’s support in their quest to build a better state and nation.
By: Bethel Toby
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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