Politics
Nigeria Can, Will Work With Collective Action – Cleric
A pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Sola Fabunmi, has called on Nigerians to demonstrate commitment and dedication towards the growth and development of the nation.
Pastor Fabunms who is the Senior Pastor of the City of Faith Church, RCCG, Gaithersburg, MD, USA, explained that the recent protests by citizens, especially the youths, has sent strong message to those in authority on the need to listen to the yearnings of the people.
In a statement on Saturday tagged ‘Nigeria Is Not A Monster: Play Your Part And Make It Work ‘ the cleric maintained that for the country to be great and overcome its challenges, the citizens must be ready to play their parts and stop usual blame games.
The statement read: “Now that the dust of the nationwide protest has settled, the voice of the people has clearly been heard across the land and has resonated in the corridors of power—even before the protest. This is evident in the many interventions of the government before, during, and after the protest. The message is clear: the citizens are weary, and they demand change.
“But it is also time to recognize that the responsibility for the future of Nigeria does not rest solely on the shoulders of a few in power, especially the President; it is a collective burden we all must carry if we truly love this country. Nigeria is not a monster. It is our home, our hope, and our future, and we all must play our part to make it work.
As citizens, we must undoubtedly understand that the true power of change lies within us. We, all 200 million-plus, are the people called Nigeria—not just the few in power among us.
“Mr. President, it is understood that the weight of leadership is a heavy burden, and I want to sincerely acknowledge the efforts you are making to steer this ship of state through turbulent waters. Change is never easy, and the road to recovery is long and fraught with challenges. This also is evident in all of your efforts so far, and it is my prayer that the Lord will continue to divinely equip you with wisdom and strength.
“But remember that leadership is not a solo journey. You have a nation blessed with people willing to support you if you earn their trust and engage them in meaningful ways. Reach out to Nigerians in the diaspora. They are a vast resource, rich in experience and expertise, and many of them still hold a deep love for their homeland, Nigeria. Encourage them to invest in their communities of origin, to share their resources, knowledge, and skills, and to contribute to the nation’s growth. Their contributions, though small in the grand scheme, can collectively ease the burden on the government. No government, no matter how well-intentioned, can do it alone. Collaboration is key.
“Nigeria is not a monster to be feared or loathed. It is a nation brimming with potential, talent, and promise, but it needs genuine help. And it will only rise if each of us does our part. We citizens should speak life into our country and act with integrity. Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, lead with vision and seek the help of all Nigerians. To those who steal, if you cannot resist, at least reinvest in the land you take from. And to the church leaders, be the pillars of empowerment that your followers need.
“Nigeria can and will work, but only if we work for it. Let us cast aside the blame game, the cynicism, and the apathy. Let us rise, together, to build a nation that we can all be proud of. The future of Nigeria is in our hands. Play your part, and let us make it work.”
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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