Politics
2025 budget: Senator Natasha seeks FG urgent attention for Ukpogo Cottage Hospital, Okene

Lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has called for urgent attention to be given to the Ukpogo Cottage Hospital in Okene in the 2025 budget.
In a statement by his media Adviser, Israel Arogbonlo the Lawmaker noted that the move was aimed at ensuring that the hospital’s operations are up to par, providing quality healthcare services to the community.
Speaking during a Senate Committee on Health meeting with the heads of various federal medical centers at the weekend, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan highlighted the troubling state of Ukpogo Cottage Hospital, which is an annex of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Lokoja. She noted that despite significant federal investment, the hospital has not been operational, failing to meet its intended purpose.
“There is a facility annexed to you called the Ukpogo Cottage Hospital, Okene. It’s a 50-bed capacity, fully equipped hospital. Why has it not been operational, considering the fact that it is an extension of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, and was established purposely to cater for accidents and armed robbery cases along the busy Okene-Auchi road?” She queried.
The lawmaker also demanded to know if the operationality of the facility was captured in the 2025 budget.
In response, Dr Olatunde Alabi, the Chief Medical Director of FMC Lokoja, explained that the facility was handed over to them four years ago.
He acknowledged that efforts had been made to make it functional, but progress has been impeded.
Dr Alabi mentioned that attempts to assign staff to the facility were unsuccessful due to a shortage of personnel at FMC Lokoja.
He appealed to the committee for intervention, emphasising that making the facility operational would greatly alleviate the patient load at FMC Lokoja, particularly from the Kogi Central area.
He also warned that the equipment at Ukpogo Cottage Hospital is deteriorating due to lack of use, and if the facility remains non-operational, it will worsen.
Politics
Governor Adeleke is not Joining ADC Nor Aligning with Anyone in ADC- Spokesperson

By David Owei, Bayelsa
Governor Ademola Adeleke is not defecting to African Democratic Congress (ADC) nor aligning with anybody within the ADC ahead of the 2026 state elections, his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed has disclosed.
Responding to media publication and enquiries, the Spokesperson affirmed that Governor Adeleke remains in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is going to win, with wide margins, the 2026 governorship elections on the platform of the PDP.
The statement reads further: “Our attention has been drawn to news reports and media enquiries about the imminent defection of Governor Adeleke to the ADC or alignment with ADC big wigs ahead of the 2026 governorship race. There is no truth in those publications and speculations.
“First of all, we, the PDP Osun, have already adopted and endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, so there is no alliance with ADC.
“Secondly, Governor Adeleke has no alliance with anyone in ADC. He remains in PDP, will run in PDP, and needs no alliance with ADC to win with a wide margin in 2026.
“The Osun electorate supports Governor Adeleke because of his impressive performance since he came to office. That good work is still ongoing and Osun people are committed to sustaining the delivery of good governance by re-electing Governor Adeleke in 2026”, the Spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Governor Adeleke urges PDP members to forge ahead with the ongoing strengthening of the party structures across all levels to prepare for fresh victory next year”, the statement from the Spokesperson concluded.
Politics
INC rejects bill granting exclusive co-chairmanship to Ooni, Sultan

By David Owei,Bayelsa
The umbrella body of Ijaw Elders, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has rejected the Bill in the Senate seeking to permanently elevate the Ooni of Ife and Sultan of Sokoto as the exclusive Co-chairmen of the Traditional Rulers Council.
The INC said the move would be at the expense of apex traditional rulers from other ethnic nationalities and geopolitical divides.
The Second Vice Chairman of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Chief Alabo Nengi James (OON) said, in a statement on Sunday in Odi, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government area of Bayelsa State, the proposal is a continuos infringement on Traditional Rulers in Nigeria.
Alabo Nengi James describes the provision of the Bill as unacceptable and against the Rights of the indigenous People across tribes, Religion, Culture and Customs.
He said the Bill should be reviewed to include clauses such as No permanent Chairmanship for Sultan and Oni only must be allowed in the ongoing bill being discussed in the Senate.
He advocates that the National Assembly should allow the National Council of Traditional Rulers to Appoint their Leadership themselves, rotationaly and based on Federal Character.
“Include the Role of Traditional Rulers into the Constitutio and No Traditional Ruler from another tribe or religion is superior to another.”
“The National Assembly should Step down the Provocative and dehumanizing offensive Bill that will cause a serious rift and breach of peace in Nigeria.”
Chief James called the attention of the Senate President, Rt. Hon. Godswill Akpabio, urging him to immediately step down what he termed a “highly insensitive and dangerous bill.”
He emphasized that traditional rulers across the country must be given equal recognition and should be allowed to choose their national leadership through internal mechanisms that reflect rotational leadership and the federal character system.
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