Politics
Keep Late Statesmen Legacies Alive, Igali Tasks Rivers, Bayelsa Govts
Former Nigerian Ambassador to the Scandinavian, Dr Godknows Igali, has charged the governments of Rivers and Bayelsa states to do all within their power to keep the legacies of their late statesmen alive.
He stated this while delivering a public lecture on the theme, “Okilo: The Bridge-Builder and His Role in the Political Stability of Nigeria” during the 16th anniversary memorial of the late first civilian governor of the old Rivers State, Chief (Sen) Melford Obiene Okilo, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Dr Igali described the late Chief Okilo as the very epitome of integrity, patriotism and selfless service to society.
The diplomat averred that late Chief Okilo was truly a bridge-builder with an unblemished public service career that spanned from the First Republic to the present one that began in 1999, when he was elected Senator to represent the Bayelsa East Senatorial District.
He gave justification for the annual event, urging the Rivers and Bayelsa states governments to continually honour departed heroes such as Chief Dappa Biriye, Major Isaac Adaka Boro and others who made significant contributions towards the creation and development of the two states.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Government has promised to renovate the personal residence of the late ex-Rivers State Governor at his home town, Emakalakala in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
The state governor, Senator Douye Diri, made the pledge while making his remarks at the Memorial Public Lecture.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Governor Diri also promised to renovate the St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Emakalakala which was built by the late sage.
The Tide reports that the two-day 2024 memorial activities ended last Friday with a thanksgiving service at the St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Emakalaka, followed by a wreath laying ceremony at his mausoleum.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Mr Doubara Atasi, quoted him as saying that the state government was undertaking the renovation projects as a mark of honour to late Chief Okilo’s patriotism and selfless service to Nigeria and humanity in general.
The Bayelsa Chief Executive noted that the late Chief Okilo was the first governor in the history of Nigeria to conceive and establish a state-owned university and an independent power plant in the country, in the early 1980s.
He stressed that if successive governments had built on what the late sage started in the power sector, Rivers and Bayelsa states would have been completely lighted up by now.
Governor Diri eulogized the departed parliamentary secretary to Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, in the First Republic, pointing out that late Chief Okilo lived “his yesterday for today” through a sacrificial and visionary lifestyle.
”From all that has been said, Chief Melford Okilo was a man who lived his yesterday for today. There are things we have started today which we ought to have started yesterday.
“Like the issue of power, if we had built on what Okilo did in the early 1980s, by now the whole of Rivers and Bayelsa states would have been lighted up, and we wouldn’t have had issues with NEPA or PHCN.
“He started the first independent power plant in Nigeria. He saw quality education as a weapon and tool for emancipation, and that is why he also established the first state university in the country, which is the Rivers State University.
“As a government we can’t talk about Melford Okilo sufficiently. But we will continue to honour his patriotic and selfless service to Rivers, Bayelsa, Nigeria and humanity in general.
“In that regard, I want to announce that the Bayelsa State Government is undertaking to renovate the personal residence of Chief Melford Okilo at Emakalakala in Ogbia LGA, as well as the church building where his memorial services had always been held at Emakalakala”, he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, emphasized that late Chief Melford Okilo deserved to be celebrated for his monumental contributions to the development of the Ijaw nation.
In attendance were former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by a former Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru, former Deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd.), serving and past House of Assembly members, commissioners, traditional rulers, amongst others.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Rt Hon. Abbas secured the party’s ticket through an affirmation exercise conducted across the 13 electoral wards in the constituency.
The wards involved include Kwarbai A, Kwarbai B, Limancin-Kona, Unguwar Fatika, Unguwar Juma, Dutsen Abba, Gyallesu, Kufena, Dambo, Wuchichiri, Tudun Wada, Tukur-Tukur, and Kaura.
The exercise, which began simultaneously in all wards at about 10 a.m., recorded large turnout of APC members who gathered at various party offices across the constituency.
At Kwarbai B Ward, the Speaker’s ward, the process was conducted peacefully under the supervision of the ward APC Returning Officer, Malam Iliyasu Muhammad Balarabe, in the presence of Rt Hon. Abbas.
According to the ward APC secretary, Nafiu Sabo, the ward has over 10,000 registered members, but 220 members were accredited for the exercise.
Before the affirmation, Mallam Balarabe informed members that Rt Hon Abbas was the only aspirant who purchased nomination forms, underwent screening, and was cleared by the APC national leadership to contest the Zaria Federal Constituency seat.
Following a voice vote by accredited members, the Speaker was affirmed as the party’s candidate in the ward, a process replicated across the remaining 12 wards.
At the constituency collation centre, the APC Returning Officer for the House of Representatives primary in Zaria Federal Constituency, Dr. Hamisu Ibrahim Kubau, announced that 1,376 APC members across the 13 wards endorsed Rt Hon. Abbas as the party’s flag bearer.
He explained that although thousands of party members participated in the exercise, only accredited delegates were allowed to vote.
Dr. Kubau declared: “There are 13 wards in Zaria Federal Constituency, and only one aspirant purchased a form, was screened, and cleared. He is Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen. After due process, we conducted affirmations across all wards.”
He added that the process was peaceful and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party representatives.
Chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Elections in Kaduna State, Senator Yakubu Oseni, described the outcome as a reflection of the Speaker’s popularity and acceptance among constituents.
He expressed confidence that Rt Hon Abbas would secure victory in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking after his declaration, Rt Hon. Abbas expressed appreciation to APC members for reaffirming their confidence in him.
The incumbent Reps including Emily Inyang and Godwin Offionio, in separate interviews
protested the handling of the primaries conducted by the leadership of the party in the state, saying it was skewed against them.
The aspirants further described the primaries as a charade and an embarrassment to the state.
According to them, the House of Representatives primaries fell short of the provisions of both the Electoral Act as amended in 2026 and the party’s constitution.
They accused the leadership of the party in the state, backed by Governor Bassey Otu, of violating the party’s constitution in the conduct of the House of Representatives primaries across the state on Saturday.
Hon. Godwin Offiono, representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, particularly expressed disappointment with the primary that allegedly disenfranchised registered members of the party in his constituency.
Hon. Offiono asserted that having failed to arrive at a consensus, the party leadership opted for a direct primary to decide the candidate for the 2027 election.
“But what I witnessed today was not only alarming, but quite disheartening that our electoral system have not shown any improvement, especially now that we have a man of God in the person of the governor as the leader of the party.
“How do you declare a result by 9:00am even when the electoral materials were yet to arrive at Yala.
“As an aspirant, I couldn’t even vote or see the materials for my own primary at my Okuku ward in Yala Local Government Area, where I come from. But no matter what happens I am still in the race and have not stepped down for anybody.
“The governor had all the time in the world to drive the process of consensus but he never did. As a representative, I cannot even see my governor. I called, no response. I sent text no reply. I am treated as an out cast,” he lamented.
In an emotion laden tone during a telephone interview, Hon. Offiono further said: “I could not believe that first term NASS members like me can be treated in this shoddy manner even when I don’t know my offence.
“I have been a loyal party man. I appeal to the governor to do the right thing, follow the Electoral Act and party constitution in electing representatives.”
Similarly, Hon. Emil Inyang of Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency said he still remained in the race and had not stepped down for anybody.
According to him, “If this shenanigan called primary is allowed to stand, it would affect the party’s fortune in the general elections.
“My appeal to the governor is to allow the people to decide. And if they so voted against me, I will rest and not fight over anything.
“There was no stakeholders meeting held to decide on anything before now, and someone can not be unilaterally imposed on us all in the name of compromised primary,” he stated.
A coalition of support groups within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has protested the disqualification of former presidential aspirant, Mr Tein Jack-Rich, from the Rivers West Senatorial race ahead of the party’s primaries for the 2027 general elections.
The groups, in a statement issued on Saturday morning in Abuja, described the action of the party’s screening committee as unjust and capable of worsening internal divisions within the APC in Rivers State.
The statement, signed by the coalition’s National Coordinator, Dr. Bilal Galadima, and General Secretary, Hon. James Ogenyi, accused the party leadership in Rivers State of favouring politicians loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, while sidelining long-standing members of the APC.
The coalition alleged that only aspirants aligned with Chief Wike were cleared to contest for elective positions in the state.
“How can our party allow only one man who is not a member of our party to make decisions or dictate the direction of our party?”, the group queried.
The coalition specifically faulted the exclusion of Mr Jack-Rich, describing him as a loyal party member who had supported the APC for more than 13 years and previously contested the party’s presidential ticket.
It also questioned the alleged clearance of Chief Felix Obua, whom it described as a recent entrant into the party and an ally of Chief Wike.
“How can our party disqualify Jack-Rich, a former presidential aspirant who has been loyal and supported our party for the last 13 years, only for our party to choose Felix Obua, a Wike loyalist who only joined the party three months ago?”, the statement read.
The group warned that failure by the APC leadership and National Working Committee (NWC) to address the matter as it could weaken the party’s structure in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.
It called on party leaders to uphold internal democracy, reward loyalty and ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.
INEC TO BEGIN MEMBERSHIP VERIFICATION AS POLITICAL PARTIES SUBMIT REGISTER
All 22 registered political parties have successfully submitted their membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, the Commission has said.
In a statement issued on Friday, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Mohammed Haruna, said the submission followed the extension granted by the Commission after political parties raised concerns during a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, regarding the timeline provided in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general elections.
He said, “The Commission is pleased to note that all registered parties submitted their registers as of 8th May 2026, two days before the extended deadline.”
He recalled that following a meeting with political parties, the Commission, in a statement issued on the 27th of March, 2026, adjusted the deadline for the submission of party registers from 21st April 2026 to 10th May 2026 to align with the provisions of Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the actual dates fixed by political parties for their primaries.
Mr Haruna noted that political parties were accordingly allowed to conduct their primaries within the approved period from 23rd April 2026 to 30th May 2026, while the register of party members was required to be submitted to the Commission not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.
He added, “INEC wishes to state that all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe and will subject the submitted registers to the necessary verification processes in line with the law.”
The Commission restated its commitment to the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.
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