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By Gloria Ikibah

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has commissioned a 100-bed Renewed Hope Specialist Hospital in his Zaria Federal Constituency, marking a significant addition to healthcare infrastructure in Kaduna State.

The facility, situated in the Dumbin Rauga community within Dutsen Abba Ward, was delivered through the Sustainable Development Goals office as part of efforts to improve access to quality medical services.

The commissioning ceremony drew a large crowd, with the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, among top dignitaries in attendance.

The new hospital is expected to ease the burden on residents who previously had to travel considerable distances to access specialised treatment, particularly those in Zaria and surrounding communities.

“That situation has placed pressure on households and delayed treatment in many cases. What we are opening today changes that. It brings care closer to people and improves access in a direct and practical way,.

“This project also holds personal significance. It reflects engagements with communities across this constituency, where the need for improved healthcare facilities has been consistently raised. Based on those engagements, we pursued this intervention and secured the necessary support at the federal leve“, he saidl.

Speaker Abbas acknowledged the role of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in making the project a reality through his commitment to targeted investments that respond to real needs. He also commended the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs for ensuring timely delivery.

He said Zaria is a strategic location for such a facility, noting that it serves not only the city but also a wide network of communities across Kaduna State and the North West.

“This hospital will reduce referrals, ease congestion at other centres, and provide a stronger foundation for healthcare delivery in the state and the region.

“Across the North West, population growth has increased demand for services, particularly in healthcare. In many cases, existing facilities have struggled to keep up. This hospital adds capacity and improves the situation. It is one step in a broader effort to strengthen healthcare systems across the country.

“At the national level, the House of Representatives has focused on ensuring that public spending delivers visible results. We have strengthened oversight to ensure projects are completed and put to use. It is not enough to approve funds. The outcome must be clear to the public. This facility is an example of what that approach should produce.”

However, the Speaker noted, the work does not end with commissioning, saying, “A hospital becomes valuable when it functions well over time. It must be properly staffed, its equipment maintained, and its services reliable. I urge those who will manage this facility to ensure that it meets these expectations every day.”

The Speaker encouraged collaboration between the hospital on one hand and the local authorities and community organisations on the other hand.

He added that, “This project fully aligns with the broader direction of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises improving healthcare, expanding access, and strengthening systems. What we see here is one part of that wider effort.

“As we approach another electoral cycle, our choice should be guided by evidence, not promises. This hospital is evidence. It shows what can be delivered when leadership is focused and consistent. Progress of this kind does not happen by accident. It requires time, coordination, and steady direction. When policies continue, projects are completed, strengthened, and expanded. When that continuity is broken, momentum is lost, and results are delayed.

“At the federal level, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set a clear direction built on reform and delivery. In Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani has worked in alignment with that direction. This cooperation is already producing results, as we can see here today.

“For that reason, I call for clear and firm support for the All Progressives Congress. The APC provides the platform through which these policies are implemented and sustained. Supporting the party is supporting continuity, stability, and the expansion of projects like this across the country.

“Looking ahead, there is more to be done. More communities need access to quality healthcare. More facilities need improvement. More services need to reach the people. These goals are achievable, but they require consistent leadership and policy.

“The choice, therefore, is straightforward. To consolidate what has been achieved, to protect the progress already made, and to extend it to more communities, there must be continuity at both the federal and state levels under the leadership of the APC. That is the path to a more stable and improved future for our people.”

In a remark, Governor Uba Sani lauded the Speaker for attracting the project to Zaria. He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the project and many others executed in Kaduna State and the North West.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said the project was among the many Speaker Abbas attracted to Zaria Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, and the nation as a whole.

“We thank you for all your efforts, Mr. Speaker,” she said, adding that the hospital is fitted with state-of-the-art equipment to attend to thousands of patients.

The entire facility was transferred to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) for management.

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By Gloria Ikibah

Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed has formally left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)and joined the Allied Peoples Movement, marking a significant political shift after weeks of behind-the-scenes consultations.

The move follows growing uncertainty within the PDP, sparked by a recent Supreme Court ruling on the party’s protracted leadership dispute. The governor’s decision came after a meeting with key political figures, where attention was centred on the implications of the judgment and the direction of his political future.

In the days leading up to the announcement, Mohammed had been in Abuja engaging with prominent stakeholders in an effort to steady the party. However, the combination of internal divisions and legal complications appears to have reshaped the landscape.

The court’s decision, which invalidated parallel conventions organised by opposing factions and sent the matter back to a lower court, has left the PDP grappling with both structural and legal uncertainty, prompting the governor’s departure.

“After careful consideration and wide consultations with leaders and stakeholders across the country, it has become clear that our efforts to restore stability have not yielded the desired results,” he said.

The Bauchi governor emphasised that his decision was not driven by sentiment but by political necessity, adding that governance and electoral readiness required a more stable platform.

He portrayed the Allied Peoples Movement as a credible and legally stable platform, suggesting that the switch was intended to secure continuity in governance while maintaining political relevance ahead of the 2027 elections.

The governor also disclosed that members of his State Executive Council seeking elective office had stepped down in line with electoral guidelines. While acknowledging the role the Peoples Democratic Party had played in his political journey, he indicated that the decision to leave was taken with his supporters and the wider political climate in mind.

“We remain PDP at heart. We are leaving not out of bitterness, but out of necessity—to continue the struggle for good governance,” he said.

Mohammed went on to unveil transition committees tasked with overseeing the defection process, including the registration of new members into the APM, engagement with party leadership and coordination with the Independent National Electoral Commission. He appealed to his supporters to stay calm and united, describing the move as a strategic repositioning rather than a reaction to crisis.

In welcoming the governor, APM National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle characterised the development as a significant gain for the party, commending Mohammed’s leadership record and democratic credentials.

Dantalle emphasised that the party is built on principles of integrity and national development, noting that it remains free of internal disputes and open to new members.

He subsequently handed over the governor’s membership card and party insignia, formalising his entry into the APM. The development is expected to influence political alignments as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather pace.

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A former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Cross River State, Senator Prof Sandy Ojang Onor, has entered the party’s presidential contest after purchasing its nomination form, vowing to reposition the PDP and return it to national leadership.

Onor, who served as the senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District from 2019 to 2023, spoke shortly after obtaining the form at the PDP National Secretariat on Saturday, saying his decision was driven by appeals from party stakeholders and supporters nationwide, expressing confidence that the PDP remains Nigeria’s most viable platform for democratic governance.

Describing the PDP as a “legacy institution,” he said the party had played a defining role in shaping Nigeria’s democratic trajectory.

“This is a party that has showcased the beauty of democracy, demonstrated resilience and given Nigeria direction and prosperity,” he said. “It remains a people-centred platform with the capacity to deliver national renewal.”
He acknowledged the party’s recent internal challenges but insisted it had emerged stronger and more united.

“We have overcome our worst anxieties and weathered the storm. If given the mandate, we will consolidate on these gains and lead the party to greater heights,” Onor added.

The aspirant also highlighted the PDP’s record of democratic conduct, noting its history of conceding electoral defeat in the national interest.

“If you have seen the PDP in its days of glory, then you should be confident that it is poised to surpass those achievements and lead Nigeria into a new phase of growth,” he said.

In his response, the party’s National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, welcomed Onor’s aspiration and assured him of the party’s support within the framework of a transparent process.

“We recognise your intention and vision. The party will provide the necessary guidance as the process unfolds,” he said, reaffirming the PDP’s commitment to internal democracy ahead of the presidential primaries.