Politics
Fubara Using Rivers Resources For Dev. – CTC Chair
The Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr. Enyiada Cookey-Gam, has said that Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, is using the state resources and funds to aggressively develop the state, especially the rural communities that have been neglected in the past 25 years.
Reacting to alleged use of state funds in the recruitment of hoodlums to foment crisis in the state by Governor Fubara, Dr Cookey-Gam described the insinuations as untrue, baseless and the figment of the imagination of mischief makers.
Dr CookeyGam said the truth is that Governor Fubara had neither misused nor deployed state funds and resources on meaningless jamboree, rather his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, indiscriminately gave out state resources and funds in his quest to secure the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections.
“Nyesom Wike was the one that had misused our resources to support other states and deadly activities while Rivers people were dying of hunger, hardship, poverty and disease. It is on record that for the past eight years, Rivers State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was about #12 billion, but today, the amount has drastically changed from #12 billion to over #28 billion, meaning that the dispensation rough-handled our resources and funds to stupor.
“As far as we are concerned, the people’s Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara remains the political hero and leader of Rivers State.
“We need Godly leaders like Siminalayi Fubara who stands by his words in the morning, afternoon and night.God brought him to clean the development and political mess of the Nyesom Wike-led administration in the last eight years of dictatorial governance.”
Dr CookeyGam, a grassroots mobilizer and political gladiator in the LGA, has called on the Governor’s detractors, such as the factional leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha and his Abuja paymasters, to desist forthwith from negative and unfounded allegations against the Governor.
He warned APC leader to concentrate on his assignment as the Rivers State representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), where he is expected to attract viable people – oriented development projects and programmes.
“Since Tony Okocha became member on the board of the NDDC, he has not been able to attract tangible development projects and programmes to the state, talk less of scholarships, grants, and other empowerment largesse to both the students and youths.
“Hence, he is expected to shun the temptation of inviting the wrath of God and the people, as further clueless, senseless and immature insults to the office of the Governor will be resisted.
“Enough is enough of such irrelevant, irresponsible and unjustifiable rascality when all Rivers people are expected to join forces to work with the the present government to move the state forward developmentally.
Tony Okocha and his Abuja connections are busy misleading their followers on make- believe destructive polity that would do nobody any good”, the council chairman said.
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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