Politics
Rivers Crisis:GDI Needs Forgiveness From God
The Concerned Rivers Citi
zens has said that the Governor of Rivers State, Rt Hon.Chibuike Amaechi has worked assiduously more than any of his antagonists. Its coordinator and a former member of the Federal House of Representative, Hon Igo Aguma who stated this last weekend in Port Harcourt while reacting to a statement by the President General of Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) Bright Ameawhule, advised the opposition group to seek God’s forgiveness for the unwarranted crisis they have instigated in Rivers State through their sponsors and cohorts.
The GDI President had disparaging statements about Governor Amaechi where he alleged that he (Amaechi) has raped the provisions of the Nigerian constitution.
Hon Aguma described the statement as mischievous, insisting that the elements behind the GDI were determined to destabilise the state as he assured that Rivers people who have witnessed the developmental strives of the present administration would resist it with all their strength and blood.
According to him,”We do not want to join issues with the evil driving, volatile and rabble-rousing GDI and its sponsors over the appointment of an acting Chief Judge for the state. We take serious exceptions to abuses poured on Governor Amaechi and his administration. The words used on the governor clearly shows that the GDI and its sponsors lack home training and are morally bankrupt in thinking and actions”. “We wish to state clearly that Governor Amaechi has worked assiduously, more than any of his antagonists, who today are major beneficiaries of his administration. Perhaps we should advise the GDI to seek God’s forgiveness for the unwarranted crises they have instigated in the state through their sponsors and cohorts.”
“Rather than say the Holy Spirit has departed from Governor Amaechi, it is actually the GDI and its selfish sponsors that the Holy Spirit has departed from, as all their evil plans to cause chaos manifesting in, the incessant arrest and unlawful detention of genuine PDP members in the state, imposition of a kangaroo PDP executive in Rivers State. ,Unleashing of cultists on the Rivers State House of Assembly., Connivance with Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu to create a state of insecurity in Rivers state with a view to cause state of emergency. ,The Nigerian Governors’ Forum crisis and Illegal ceding of Rivers oil wells to Bayelsa State” ,he said.
He said while these seemingly daunting challenges continued in the state by those opposition camp, God has continued to sustain Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and indeed Rivers people, given clear indication that the Holy Spirit has not departed from the Governor and the people.
Hon Aguma who represented Port Harcourt Federal Constituency one in 2003 to 2011,said the achievements of Governor Amaechi do not portray his administration as bereft of ideas,adding that it is on record that the leadership of the PDP in Nigeria, led by President Goodluck Jonathan, the Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo, national Chairman, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the National Assembly, fellow PDP and non- PDP Governors, youths, women, local, national and international organisations have commended Governor Amaechi, a strict observer of the rule of law, as being among the leading lights of Nigeria’s democracy.
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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