…Mutfwang, Fintiri Fault Expulsion Of Wike, Fayose, Others

Following his election as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the party’s National Convention in Ibadan on Saturday, Kabiru Turaki has promised to live up to the expectations of party faithful and Nigerians at large.

Turaki emerged as the new chairman at the convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, where delegates from 17 states across the country cast their votes to choose national officers.

The former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs scored 1,516 votes at the exercise held at the Lekan Salami Stadium.

Senator Ben Obi, who supervised the election, announced that Senator Yakubu Danmarke came second with 275 votes.

In his acceptance speech, Turaki acknowledged that the task ahead is enormous but expressed confidence that the party’s new leadership is capable of delivering.

“The cross you have given us means that you watch us also take it to the Nigerian people, and that we shall do. We are not under any illusion that the task placed on us is a simple one. Our party is at a crossroads now, but we are up to the task; we are up to the challenge,” Turaki said.

He added, “Very soon, we shall be rolling out what our guiding principles will be and the modus operandi for achieving them. When we do that, we shall be hitting the ground running from day one.”

Turaki assured members and supporters of the party that the confidence they have reposed in him would not be taken for granted, promising to faithfully discharge the mandate given to him.

He said: “Today, as I talk to you, the only political party that has retained its name is the Peoples Democratic Party. This has been possible because this is the party of the Nigerian people. Make no mistake about it; we are returning the party to you, the people. There will be no more impunity.”

The convention, which drew over 3,000 delegates from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, commenced on November 15 and ran into the early hours of November 16.

Meanwhile, governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has formally distanced himself from the expulsion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He also dissociated himself from the expulsion of a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, the national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and other leaders of the PDP.

The party unanimously voted to expel them for anti-party activities and fostering disunity with series of litigation against the interests of the party.

In a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, the governor explained that the issue was neither discussed by the PDP Governors’ Forum nor the National Executive Committee (NEC) before the motion was presented.

He stated that the proposal did not reflect his position on the matter.

Governor Mutfwang further noted that expelling the party leaders at this crucial time was not a strategic step toward resolving the internal challenges currently confronting the PDP.

He said there was a need for unity, dialogue, and collective effort in rebuilding and repositioning the party.

Mutfwang is the second governor to distance himself from the expulsion of the PDP leaders at the national convention in Oyo.

The Plateau governor’s comment came shortly after his Adamawa State counterpart, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, distanced himself from the expulsion of the former Rivers State governor, Fayose, and nine others.

In the same vein, Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has dissociated himself from the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to expel the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, from the party.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, on Saturday.

Fintiri, who is also the Chairman of the PDP 2025 Elective National Convention, noted that the decision was not in the best interest of the party.

He said he would not be party to any attempt that could further plunge the PDP into unending crisis.

“As a faithful party member, my position is clear: I stand for the peace and stability of the PDP, and I will not support anything that could lead to its disintegration.

“I believe that peace and reconciliation are the only ways forward for our great party,” the governor was quoted as saying.

Fintiri urged all stakeholders to work towards healing the divisions within the party and to strive for unity and cohesion.

He stated that as a party man, he remained committed to supporting efforts that promote peace, stability, and progress within the PDP.

The governor reiterated that his position was guided by the desire for peace and reconciliation and will continue to work towards achieving this goal.

The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has condemned recent killings in the north and called on bandits and vigilante groups to stop the violence.

Khalil Moh’d Bello, KACRAN’s national president, made the appeal in a statement on Thursday.

He said the association is alarmed by the “shameful, brutal killings” of innocent Nigerians, the destruction of property and the rustling of livestock across the region.

According to him, pastoralists have become victims of extortion and coercion by criminal groups who demand illegal levies or force them to surrender their children to join armed gangs.

He said many herders are also exposed to attacks by volunteer fighters who fail to confront bandits in forest hideouts but instead “end their operations by killing innocent pastoralists”.

Bello added that security operations often result in unintended casualties among herders who are caught between bandits and state forces.

He said pastoralists are sometimes compelled to provide cover for criminal groups because they are not allowed safe access to grazing areas in the deep forest.

Bello warned that pastoral communities would be the most vulnerable if the country were to face an external threat, citing their experience during previous clashes with vigilante groups and security forces.

His words: “KACRAN, for whatsoever reason, rejects and condemns in unmistakable terms any act of killing innocent Nigerians.

“We call on bandits and volunteers to end their act, which is a heinous crime that has no cause or justification.”

He criticised the recent breaches of peace deals in Katsina, Kano and Zamfara, where bandits attacked communities that had previously reached reconciliation agreements with them.

Bello said some of the communities, particularly in Katsina, had honoured the terms of the peace accord, but “disgruntled elements” among the armed groups violated the agreement and launched attacks and abductions.

He said similar incidents occurred in Zamfara, where bandits allegedly reneged on agreements with farmers, killed residents and kidnapped others for ransom.

Bello urged government and community leaders to prioritise the protection of innocent pastoralists, whom he described as the most exposed in the cycle of rural violence.

By Augustine Akhilomen

Former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has warned President Bola Tinubu against seeking a meeting with United States President Donald Trump over the latter’s recent threats to invade Nigeria.

Fani-Kayode issued the warning while speaking as a guest lecturer at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Akure, Ondo state.

The former minister said the president risks “embarrassment” if he attempts to meet Trump at the White House.

He said his concern was informed by media reports suggesting that Tinubu was seeking an audience with the American president.

Fani-Kayode described Trump as “irrational, unpredictable and unbalanced”.

He accused the US president of harbouring what he called “a pathological hatred for Africans, black and brown people, and Muslims”.

He said Trump’s behaviour reflects what Pentecostal Christians refer to as a “Demas­tic anointing”, which he explained as a fixation on materialism derived from the biblical story of Demas, an associate of Apostle Paul.

“He has been afflicted with what those of us in Pentecostal circles describe as a ‘Demas­tic anointing’, named after Apostle Paul’s loyal disciple called Demas, who lost his way and fell”, he stated.