Politics
Tinubu, Gowon, Jonathan To Attend Book Launch On Buhari
A five-volume book chronicling the eight years of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023 will be unveiled to the public on Tuesday next week in Abuja.
Also, a book, “Working With Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media, and Publicity (2015–2023),” the memoir of Chief Femi Adesina, would be simultaneously presented to the public at the ceremony to be chaired by General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s Head of State, 1966–1975, with President Bola Tinubu as Chief Guest.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, are also among the dignitaries expected at the occasion to be held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hotel, Abuja.
Speaking at the pre-book launch media conference yesterday in Abuja, Femi Adesina, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the immediate past President, said the two publications would bring Buhari to Abuja for the first time since he exited office in May 2023.
He noted that his memoir, which he wrote dispassionately, would provide great insights into the life and leadership of the former president.
He noted that the groundbreaking five-volume historical compendium, “Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy (2015–2023),” edited by Dr. Udu Yakubu, is co-authored by over 100 Nigerian scholars.
The book, according to the authors, is “the authoritative, comprehensive, and most definitive story of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023.”.
Recalling how he had to tender his resignation letter at the Sun Newspaper in order to “reluctantly” take up the appointment of Special Adviser, Media, and Publicity to the former president, Adesina said he cried on the fateful morning he was to sign his appointment letter because, according to him, he was stepping into unknown territory.
Adesina said he was, however, fulfilled that he was able to discharge his duties successfully and creditably and that he turned out to be the first spokesperson for a sitting president who has served in that capacity for eight years since the country’s return to democracy in 1999.
He insisted that Buhari was a true democrat and took certain decisions and actions during his administration in the interest of Nigerians, even though those he described as “wailers” did not see anything good during the eight years of the former president’s reign.
He said, “Why did I think I should write about the president I served for 8 years? I will say I knew Buhari long before I came to work for him as an adviser to the media. Before then, I hadn’t worked with the government and had no desire to work with it.
“But when the invitation came to work for him because he was a man I had admired since he was the military leader, I decided to take the appointment.
“So, when I was asked to come into government, though very reluctantly, you will read in the book how, in the morning I had to sign my appointment, I began to cry because I didn’t want it. I was going into what is called Terra incognita (unknown or unexplored territory), a terrain I didn’t know at all.
“So, I came for 8 years, which is unprecedented. No media adviser has served for 8 years in a democracy except the military regime,” he said.
He said the book is not about the hardware of governance—economic policy, monetary policy, foreign policy, and so on but rather about the software, the governance, and the man who headed that governance.
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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