The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • IPAN calls for stronger regulatory synergy

    IPAN calls for stronger regulatory synergy

    The Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) has called for stronger collaboration among regulatory bodies in the health, industrial and environmental sectors to strengthen Nigeria’s laboratory ecosystem.

    Speaking at the 32nd Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) workshop in Lagos, the Registrar/CEO of IPAN, Aliyu Angara, urged relevant agencies to shun inter-agency rivalry and embrace synergy.

     “While agencies may seek to expand their mandates, such expansion must be guided by professional ethics, mutual respect and national interest,” Angara said.

     He noted that IPAN remains the only legally recognised body authorised to register analytical laboratories and train professionals qualified to issue Certificates of Analysis valid in law.

     According to him, IPAN has consistently respected the mandates of sister agencies including NAFDAC, SON, NESREA and FCCPC, and expects the same courtesy in return.

     The two-day workshop, themed, ‘Testing for Cosmetic Safety and Efficacy: Balancing Consumer Demands, Public Health, and Regulatory Standards,’ drew participants from regulatory agencies, academia, industry and policy circles.

     Delivering the keynote address, the Dean, Faculty of Physical and Earth Sciences, University of Lagos, Prof. Olayinka Asekun, highlighted the rising demand for locally made cosmetic products and emphasised the need for robust safety assessments before market entry.

    Read Also: Yoruba Islamic clerics, leaders warn against using religion to divide Nigeria

     “There is a gradual shift in demand for African products made in Africa for African skin. This transformation is sparking a new age of local innovation, encouraging both local start-ups and foreign investments,” she said.

     Asekun, however, expressed concern about the proliferation of adulterated and fake cosmetic products, warning that many unapproved products are being pushed into the market, increasing risks to consumers.

     Declaring the workshop open, the chairman of the occasion, Prof. Olugbenga Ogunmoyela, urged analysts to rely on evidence-based practices rather than sentiment to ensure cosmetic products in Nigeria meet global safety standards.

     “This year’s MCPD workshop has been convened to strengthen the analytical and regulatory capacity of public analysts, ensuring that cosmetic products in Nigeria meet globally accepted safety and efficacy standards,” he said.

  • Girl, 12 dies inside domestic well in Kwara

    Girl, 12 dies inside domestic well in Kwara

    A 12-YEAR-OLD girl, simply identified as Nabilat, has died inside a domestic well in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

    Nabilat allegedly fell inside the well around 10:35 am yesterday.

    The unfortunate incident occurred at Busari Alao Street, Ikoyi community Irewolede area in Ilorin metropolis.

    Confirming the incident, spokesperson of the state Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said that “the brigade was summoned through an exchange telephone call by one Mayowa living in that neighbourhood.

    Read Also: Yoruba Islamic clerics, leaders warn against using religion to divide Nigeria

    “Firemen were able to recover the dead body from the well and later handed it over to one family member of the deceased.

    “According to the report, the victim went to fetch water and during the process of fetching, one of his legs suddenly slipped off the ground and eventually tumbled down into the well.”

  • OGIRS boss charges staff on data integrity, cybersecurity

    OGIRS boss charges staff on data integrity, cybersecurity

    The Executive Chairman, Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS), Mr. Olugbenga Olaleye, has charged Directors, Zonal Controllers, Tax Office Managers and Heads of Units to ensure total compliance with data integrity and cyber security policies in tax administration in order to prevent data breaches, financial losses and public mistrust.

    The OGIRS boss gave the charge during the OGIRS 2025 Q1–Q3 Performance Review, at Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, ogun State, saying tax administration is evolving and the era of using roadblocks as enforcement measures is over, noting that there was need for a more strategic and technology-driven approach for enforcement, urging tax professionals to enhance the efficiency of digital processes and ensure that all staff are conversant with the agency’s cyber security policies.

    Read Also: Yoruba Islamic clerics, leaders warn against using religion to divide Nigeria

    The OGIRS Chairman further stated that taxpayers must be adequately sensitised on the new tax reforms, revealing the importance of collaboration, innovation and regular brainstorming sessions for improved performance.

  • Olaogun joins Oyo assembly race

    Olaogun joins Oyo assembly race

    Babatunde Olaogun has formally declared his intention to contest for a seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly, representing Ogbomoso North Constituency under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The announcement was made at the APC Secretariat in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area, Oyo State, drawing top party leaders and supporters from across the constituency.

    The event witnessed the presence of key APC figures, including the APC Senatorial Chairman, the Ogbomoso North APC Chairman, Ward Chairman, Abogunde Ward Chairman, and the APC Secretary of the local government, all of whom expressed support for Olaogun’s ambition.

    Olaogun, a trained Microbiologist, Public Administrator and entrepreneur, highlighted his professional background as part of his readiness for legislative service.

    Read Also: Yoruba Islamic clerics, leaders warn against using religion to divide Nigeria

    A graduate of Microbiology from Lagos State University and holder of a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, he also owns Royalty Lounge and Suites in Ikeja.

    He serves as the Lead Visioner of The Royalty Foundation and convener of Royalty  Givings, a community-focused initiative promoting grassroots development.

    Unveiling his agenda for Ogbomoso North, Olaogun outlined priority areas including wealth creation by supporting innovative ideas, youth empowerment to drive community growth, and effective representation based on his governance experience. He also pledged improved access to healthcare, promising free medical services for women, especially those living with diabetes and hypertension.

  • Awori high chief supports culture

    Awori high chief supports culture

    As a way of showing commitment to Awori culture and tradition, Chief Olanrewaju Bashorun (Larry Bash) recently sponsored a cultural programme, ‘Ale Ewi Night’.

    The event, which formed part of the activities leading up to the annual Egungun Festival, was a spectacular night filled with glamour, laughter, and cultural elegance — a true reflection of the age-long Awori spirit.

    The event, which was held on Friday,7th November, showcased Bashorun’s enduring commitment to preserving Ota’s rich traditions.

    The evening brought together traditional rulers, chiefs, cultural enthusiasts, and lovers of poetry and performance.

    Read Also: Yoruba Islamic clerics, leaders warn against using religion to divide Nigeria

    The Ale Ewi — a night of poetic expression, storytelling, and music — rekindled memories of the golden days when culture served as a unifying force among the people.

     The event stood as a vibrant reminder that tradition, when celebrated, strengthens identity and unity.

    Beyond his passion for culture, High Chief Olanrewaju Bashorun has consistently championed developmental initiatives aimed at uplifting Ota and its environs. His contributions cut across community empowerment, youth support, and infrastructural advancement — all anchored on his belief that a prosperous Ota must be one that grows in peace and togetherness.

    What truly distinguishes Larry Bash, however, is his unwavering advocacy for religious harmony and peace. To him, religion should never be a wall of separation but a bridge of love and mutual respect.

  • Air Force launches decisive strikes against bandits in Northwest

    Air Force launches decisive strikes against bandits in Northwest

    • DHQ debunks report of terrorists’ abduction of Army general

    Scores of terrorists have been neutralised in Zamfara State after Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets bombed their enclave at Sauri, Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.

     The strikes also destroyed terrorists’ critical structures and logistics points, a move that may likely wither the criminals’ operational capability in the area.

     This came a day after Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mattawale, announced that the federal government had deployed additional troops and ordered decisive action against armed groups across the state.

     According to a statement by NAF’s spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, yesterday, the strikes were conducted on November 14, after “comprehensive intelligence and surveillance operations confirmed significant terrorist activity and rustled livestock concealed in a high-ground hideout used by the criminals as both a defensive position and a logistics hub.”

     The statement said the Air Component, acting on the intelligence, executed multiple coordinated strikes on the identified targets, achieving direct hits that dislodged surviving terrorists who attempted to flee into surrounding vegetation but were subsequently tracked and effectively engaged.

     “The successful mission resulted in the neutralisation of numerous terrorists and the destruction of critical structures and logistics points, significantly degrading the criminals’ operational capability in the area,” it said.

     The statement said the decisive action by the Air Component against the terrorists reinforced the recent directive of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, to “find them, hunt them down, and protect our people.”

    Read Also: Wike offers 5,000 households free cooking gas cylinder, six-month refill 

     It said the operation also underscored the unwavering resolve of the Joint Task Force and the NAF under the Operation FANSAN YAMMA to “deny terrorists safe havens, strengthen security in Zamfara State, and support wider national efforts to restore lasting peace and stability across the North West.”

    DHQ debunks report of terrorists’ abduction of Army general

    The Nigerian Army high command yesterday debunked a report by some online platforms of the kidnapping of a Brigade Commander during a terrorists’ ambush on Damboa Road in Borno State.

    The Army high command, in a statement through the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Apollonia Anele, yesterday, described the report as “fake news” and urged the public to disregard it in its entirety.

    Giving an explanation about the incident that occurred on Friday night, the statement said troops of 25 Task Force Brigade on routine patrol to secure communities around Wajiroko in Azi Multe, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, came under sudden and heavy insurgent fire while returning from a successful patrol within the fringes of Sambisa Forest.

     According to the statement, the patrol team was led by the Commander 25 Brigade, Brig-Gen M. Uba, and comprised troops of 25 Task Force Brigade and members of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

     It said the troops courageously fought through the insurgents’ ambush with superior fire power, forcing them to withdraw in disarray and to abandon their mission.

     “During the encounter, two brave soldiers and two heroic CJTF members paid the supreme price while on active service to the nation,” the statement said.

     While commending the troops for their gallantry, the Army high command commiserated with families and associates of the deceased soldiers for their heroic sacrifice to the nation.

     “The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu, salutes the uncommon bravery, resilience and sacrifice of the gallant troops who have continued to operate in one of the most dangerous theatres of conflict on behalf of our dear nation.

     “Their unflinching commitment, even in the face of grave danger, remains a powerful reminder of the daily sacrifices being made by our gallant service men and women to keep Nigeria safe,” the statement added.

  • How I want to be buried, by Fayose

    How I want to be buried, by Fayose

    • Says my body belongs to Ekiti govt

    Amid the celebration of his 65th birthday, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, has revealed how he wants to be buried

    He also revealed the preparations he has made in this regard, including a garden he has prepared for interment in his paternal grandmother’s compound.

    The former governor, who spoke in an interview with an online television station, CityEdge, said his body belongs to whichever government is in place in Ekiti State when he dies.

    Fayose said: “Death is an inevitable end. When I die, my body belongs to the Ekiti State Government.

    “I am delivering a letter to the governor on behalf of the governors that will come in say 15, 20 or 30 years, Ekiti State Government should take over my body.

    Read Also: Tinubu celebrates Fayose at 65, hails his courage, political resilience

    “And I must be buried within four weeks, because the state might not be ready within two or three days. But I will allow them four weeks.

    “My children and family are to wear their own clothes and inform the Ekiti government at the time to do the needful.

    “I have told them there is a triangle at my grandmother, the mother of my father’s home. I have made a garden there and I should be laid to rest.

    “After that, nobody must come there again. They should allow me to go.

    “If you want to show me love or you want to take care of me, do so now.”

  • Wike, Buratai and FCT land controversy

    Wike, Buratai and FCT land controversy

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister and former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, stirred up a hornets’ nest again last Tuesday in Abuja when he exchanged acrimonious words with a naval lieutenant standing sentry at a piece of land reportedly owned by former Naval chief Awwal Zubairu Gambo. Like the first batch of FCT officials sent to inspect the land but was barred, Mr Wike himself was also barred from gaining access to the property. The unseemly exchange between Mr Wike and the lieutenant, AM Yerima, has since become the butt of jokes on the internet and various social media platforms. The legal and ethical issues surrounding the bitter exchange are well known. But the consensus is that while the lieutenant and the presumed landowner might be wrong, and probably abridged due process in acquiring the land and keeping possession against the law, the minister himself had a duty to rein in his temper and speak civilly to the officer, and indeed not just to the military officer but to any landowner in line with the law governing land rights. It is, therefore, no use beating this dead horse.

    The problem, however, are the optics emanating from the Abuja land controversy. Former Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai, a retired lieutenant-general never once acclaimed for a cerebral take on civil-military issues, posted a short piece on social media demanding an apology from Mr Wike for insulting a soldier in uniform. To him, nothing else mattered, not even the casual ‘on the other hand’ of asking a question about the sense of deploying a naval lieutenant to guard a landed property belonging to a retired military officer. Believing that Mr Wike’s temperamental approach trumped every other thing and constituted a threat to national security, he wrote: “Mr Wike’s public disparagement of a uniformed officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces transcends mere misconduct; it represents a palpable threat to national security and institutional integrity. A minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform is an act of profound indiscipline that strikes at the core of our nation’s command and control structure. It deliberately undermines the chain of command, disrespects the authority of the Commander-in-Chief, and grievously wounds the morale of every individual who serves under the Nigerian flag. Such actions erode the very foundation of discipline upon which our national security apparatus stands.”

    What bothered the former army chief was, however, not national security, for it is not clear how he managed to conflate the bad-tempered exchange between the minister and a naval officer as a danger to national security. What actually riles him is that he believes a soldier in uniform is superior to every other person, even if that soldier is acting unlawfully. He has conjured a myth in his mind about the superiority of the soldier in uniform and he feels injured by any civilian challenging it. The former army chief, and others like him who have spoken in similar vein, have managed to create a class structure that puts the soldier ahead of every other person. Had Gen. Buratai limited his comment to pointing out the rules and regulations, even laws, he believed Mr Wike violated, his contribution would have been considered informative, seasoned and dispassionate. But he exceeded himself, as he often does.

    Read Also: Wike, Yerima face-off: We owe Gambo nothing but gratitude

    Retired and serving military officers who have commented on the matter have tried to make the exchange between the FCT minister and naval officer strictly one of a civilian minister speaking disrespectfully to a serving officer. But it goes far beyond that. Firstly, the exchange was just a symptom of all that has gone wrong with Nigeria, not the disease, nor the main issue. The exchange harks back to the unmanageable and increasingly painful history of civil-military relations in Nigeria, one whose roots are traceable to the colonial period. The colonialists, not to talk of more than 30 years of military rule, enthroned a culture that elevateed the soldier above everyone else, bastardised institutions, weakened laws, and turned the constitution into an ephemeral object. But it is a culture of often unearned privileges that is both difficult to embrace and sustain, not to talk of root out; a culture that explained but could not justify the brutality of military governments and their contemptuous disregard for the rule of law. Unlike Defence minister of state, Bello Matawalle, who came down unthinkingly in favour of the officer, Defence minister Mohammed Badaru caveated his support for the officer by suggesting that “Any officer on lawful duty will be protected highly. He is doing his job, and doing it greatly well.” The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, reportedly admonished civil authorities to respect military officers on duty. But what duty, and what lawful order? Guarding a landed property? Was that a security establishment, or was the land a component of national security? The controversy may have in fact inadvertently unearthed decades of privileges enjoyed by retired military officers, which generals like Buratai are anxious to protect. The purported owner of the property, a retired naval chief, was undoubtedly aware of the controversy swirling around the property; that may be the reason he got the armed sentries deployed in that location.

    Secondly, Nigeria’s security agencies have become hopelessly inefficient in the deployment of service personnel. The police deploy thousands of their men in sentry duties and protection of very important persons, but continue to insist they need more men. The system has repeatedly obliged them without auditing the men they already have or asking how they are deployed. Of course, the police personnel will never be enough; it is a bottomless pit. In the same fashion, too many military personnel are either posted to police duties all over the country or deployed in guard duties for the generals, sometimes in shocking numbers. In the midst of war in at least four regions of the country, the military could afford to post a number of its men led by a special forces naval lieutenant to protect a piece of land against the rules and regulations of the FCT land administration, and against the law. How this atrocious anomaly does not unnerve the military, and how officers who have sided with the young and intrepid lieutenant in the controversy do not appear to care what other countries think of how Nigeria deploys its service personnel, is beyond comprehension. It is clear that senior military officers have cheapened their men, cheapened the service, and have little understanding of how a people’s army should be constituted. It is truly disturbing that some senior military officers are unbothered by the humiliation and paradox of a naval officer guarding a plot of land owned by a retired officer.

    In May 2024, soldiers shut down Banex Plaza, a shopping complex located at Wuse 2 in Abuja, over a dispute with traders alleged to have sold a defective phone to a soldier. The soldiers complained that in the process of sorting out the misunderstanding they were manhandled by some traders and hoodlums. The plaza was not opened until the police acting in concert with the Department of State Service (DSS) inspired a peace deal that eventually led to the apprehension of two persons. The apprehended men were not handed over to the police but to the military in violation of the laws of the land. What was remarkable about the Banex Plaza illegality was the justification provided by a former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor. Insisting that it was unacceptable to attack a soldier, he said: “This applies to any uniformed person for as long as he is an agent of the state. An attack on him is an attack on the state, so any Nigerian of goodwill must condemn such an act. For me, I join to support the closure of Banex Plaza for as long as it takes to have anyone responsible for that dastardly act brought to justice. This is because if we fail to do so, we will be calling for anarchy. The only men who are sacrificing their lives to ensure our collective good are members of the armed forces, the police, and other security agencies.”

    This is specious reasoning at its worst. It shows how pervasive the appalling idea of subordinating the constitution to the military has become among military men and some civilians. Perhaps they should be made to reflect on the story of countries which have become failed states because the law and constitution were held in contempt by the powerful.

    It did not occur to the former CDS that no one, no matter how highly placed or armed, should ever resort to self-help. Not only was the plaza shut down for a week without a court order or even the involvement of the police legally and constitutionally empowered to handle such matters, the shop at the centre of the fracas was kept shut until two men were apprehended. It is, therefore, not surprising that naval personnel barricaded a landed property in flagrant violation of the law, and all some retired generals could point at was Mr Wike’s incivility. What of the law itself? And what of the propriety of spurning the procurement of the right documentation for the property? And what of the global image of Nigeria? Gen. Irabor has of course weighed in again on the Abuja land controversy dispute by justifying his unhelpful view of the imperious manner the military responds to civil matters. Clearly, Nigeria does not appear to have the ambition of building a world-class military, but a military of privileges, rank and false heroism.

    Mr Wike is not loved by a record number of Nigerians despite his performance and record as a governor and minister. He is sometimes acerbic and unorthodox, his methods often rankling very badly. But he was more right on the land issue than the naval officer. This matter will, from all indications, blow over because it is really just so much silly sound and fury signifying nothing. But Mr Wike must now be aware that even if an official is right, the redress must be carried out in such a way that it does not compromise the integrity of his case. More importantly, the FCT minister must have suspected that he is hated more for his support for President Bola Tinubu than for his short fuse. They see him as the man at the centre of weakening the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the man whose political manoeuvres significantly impacted the 2023 presidential poll. In addition, his efforts to sanitise the Abuja master plan is unlikely to win him friends in a country and capital city where impunity has become second nature, and where military men and security agents all pull rank on anyone not in uniform. He, therefore, has a duty to think twice, in spite of himself, before he talks and acts, knowing full well that whatever he does will be used against him, the president and the All Progressives Congress (APC). This curious animosity will get worse as the APC continues to outmanoeuvre the opposition and try to make the 2027 polls a foregone conclusion.

  • Bringing down tension

    Bringing down tension

    • By Abdu Rafiu

    Each day, each major burning issue, raising tension in the polity! Each time, it is hot potato! Otherwise, how do we place the unfortunate public spat between the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, and a young Naval Officer, Lt. A. M. Yerima? Alarmed high ranking retired officers of the military establishment rally round Yerima! Chief of Defence Staff, General Oluyede, giving him kudos for his conduct, said, “The Nigerian Defence Academy does not produce docile officers. The officer’s response reflects admirable composure and emotional intelligence-qualities that lie at the heart of military leadership training. His ability to remain calm, firm, and respectful under verbal provocation demonstrates discipline and professionalism.

    “Nevertheless, it is both unfortunate and inappropriate for a federal minister to use such language towards a serving officer of the Armed Forces. Public officials should model civility and restraint, especially when addressing those in uniform who embody national service and sacrifice.

    “Notwithstanding, the case is subject to my security.”

    The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, is reported to have said, “We will always protect our officer. He has done well. We won’t allow anything happen to him.”

    This kind of encounter cannot go without attracting comments from well-meaning members of the public, some full-length and a few adumbrated. A public statement has reached my hands said to have been issued by a group of well-meaning Nigerians. I am interested in the import of the statements coming from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Oluyede, and a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, on the heels of a stand-off between the Minister of FCT, Mr.Nyesom Wike and Lt. Yerima. General Buratai is unsparing in his remarks, describing Wike’s conduct as reckless endangerment of national order that transcends mere misconduct of political theatrics, but it also “deliberately undermines the chain of command, disrespects the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and grievously wounds the morale of every individual who serves under the Nigerian flag.

    “Such actions erode the very foundation of discipline upon which our national security apparatus stands…It represents a palpable threat to national security and institutional integrity. This action by Wike is clearly an indication of undermining the federal government’s authority.” Palpably concerned and, indeed, enraged, General Buratai says the action amounted to bashing the integrity of the Armed Forces and violation of the honour of the specific officer, that is, Naval Lt. Yerima. He says Wike’s outburst is an assault and being one on a military officer in uniform, it is an act of profound indiscipline that “strikes at the core of Nigerian command and control structure.” He pointed out that such confrontations with uniformed officers could have far-reaching implications for discipline within the Armed Forces.

    The tense situation amidst controversy over US President Trump’s voiced reading of genocidal killings in our land requires careful handling with wisdom. We may wish to have some background to the ugly encounter between Minister Wike and the young officer, Naval Lt. Yerima. It is over a parcel of land belonging to the retired Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo. The FCT Administration under Nyesom Wike said the land the retired naval chief is developing has no title document and approval. Throwing light on the history of the land, the spokesman to the Minister, Lere Olayinka, said that far back in 2007, the large parcel of land was allocated to a company called Santos Estate Limited for Parks and Recreation. According to Olayinka, the area is a road corridor. The original buyer changed his mind and applied to the then minister in 2022 to convert the land from parks and recreation to commercial. In anticipation of an approval by the then minister, the proprietor of the proposed parks began to partition the land for sale. It was one of the parcels arising from the partitioning that Vice-Admiral Gambo bought. As it turned out approval for conversion was not granted by the previous minister. Gambo started developing his property. The FCT officers went there to ask that the work be stopped. In view of demolitions of houses going on in the federal capital of Abuja generally, the retired Naval chief, presumably sought to protect what he had bought, probably unaware that the sale was illegal as the land area is not for residential development. Vice-Admiral Gambo sent military men there, led by Lt. Yerima. They did not allow FCT officers access to the place. The minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike as he is wont to, then decided to take on the task himself. He went there with a retinue of his officers and policemen. He was denied access by the military men on guard and the confrontation ensued.

    Wike was wrong. All he needed do on discovering that the land belongs to a retired officer of the level of Vice-Admiral Gambo, was to give him a call and explain to him that the area is not meant for residential houses, and that, in fact, he may have been scammed, employing Olayinka’s own words. Do you add to the wound of a person’s soul or help to heal it? He would also have, out of empathy, offered the Vice-Admiral alternative places to make a choice so he could allocate a new plot to him. That would have been a display of sensitivity, caringness and decency for which the Vice-Admiral would have been grateful and deeply appreciative. Does the minister know for how long the officer had striven to save what he has decided to pour into the project? Yes, Gambo needed to obtain approval; he could have thought he would regularize all that later, given all the foot-dragging in these matters in some of Nigerian public offices. If he did not want to do that, the other option was to take him to court so the court could pronounce the development illegal and it should be halted.

    Read Also: Wike offers 5,000 households free cooking gas cylinder, six-month refill 

    Following is the encounter between the Hon. Minister, Mr. Wike and Naval Officer, Naval Lt. Yerima posted to this column from a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka:

    Minister: Shut up

    Naval officer: I will not shut up

    Minister: You are a fool

    Naval officer: I am not a fool

    Minister: Keep quiet

    Naval officer: I will not keep quiet

    Minister: You are grabbing land:

    Naval officer: I have integrity. I am working on orders.

    Minister; By the time I graduated, you were in primary school

    Naval officer: But you cannot shut me up

    Minister: You cannot develop this property

    Naval officer: I am working on orders

    Minister: Who gave you the orders?

    Naval officer: A Three-Star General

    This encounter should not have arisen at all. It is distasteful. It is appalling. Mr. Nyesom Wike is one of president Bola Tinubu’s most visible, very effective, committed and most hardworking ministers. He has brought to his assignment uncommon application to work. There are proven pieces of evidence that he delivers. He will certainly bring enheartening transformation to the face of Abuja, by the time his time is up, maybe beyond 2027. He has the drive. However, he can do with more refinement and decorum in the discharge of his assigned duties and give respect to whom respect is due. Bullying and intimidation should have no place in public service, especially at the level of a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He will certainly achieve more with polish. Refinement disarms, it does not stand in the way of firmness.

    MR. TRUMP AND NIGERIA’S INSECURITY

    The United States President, Mr. Donald Trump has shown deep concern about the killings in our country which he sees as having sectarian undertones. He has threatened to fly in his crack units from his troops to smoke out terrorists and bandits, and their sponsors. This has sent cold shivers down many a spine. On the surface, it may have struck alarm in our hearts, and rightly so as a nation. The zones and people under siege, under bombardment, unable to sleep, and from whose communities peace of mind and of the environment, has fled, can’t but be happy at the prospect of help, at Mr. Trump’s promise and possibility of deliverance. It is only natural. And this is what has put Nigerians at a crossroads: Should Trump come or should he not?

    Mr. Trump was elected, despite his many flaws last year November because the Americans were tired of Godlessness in their lives, of the irreligiousity a great many of the citizens have largely embraced and made a way of life. The conservatives that constitute the soul of the Republicans, those Dr. Stanley Macebuh was wont to call the substantial minority, had been complaining that liberal administrations had banished God from their lives, from schools of their children, and from public institutions. The churches are empty in many areas and in many states. They said there were no longer Devotional Hours any longer in their schools, there were no prayers at public events. They felt, somehow, that they had all the material comforts alright, technology has made life even rosier, there was emptiness in their souls. They recalled what they often said about themselves and what outsiders had been saying about their land, “God’s own country.” That it is a blessed land.

    America is a settler nation, founded by those who fled from the crusade in Europe from 1095, the first formed with the goal to recapture Jerusalem for Christendom. This was at the behest of Pope Urban 11. The crusade lasted several years. A scholar once wrote that it was a period of church’s war on the freedom of thought. “The real history of the church” wrote Victor Hugo in his ‘his history of free thought’ “will be read not on the pages, but between the lines of the political annals. Parnilli was whipped for declaring that stars do not fall from their appointed paths. Campland was thrown into jail 27 times for claiming and insisting that there are innumerable other worlds besides the earth plane. Harvey was tortured for the crime of proving that the blood circulates through the arteries and veins of the body. Galileo was incarcerated for claiming that the earth orbits around the sun and Christopher Columbus was imprisoned for discovering a land not mentioned by St. Paul which is America. Those fleeing from the crusade consequently had their inner beings sharpened and refined from the horrible experiences in Europe. Thus, when they got to America, with ardent longing for the ideal and turning their gaze upwards for help, with their now resultant inner radiance, they consecrated the land and the blessings of the Lord poured to cover the land. They displayed virtues,; they prospered and America became known as “God’s own country”!

    The conservatives and Christian communities believed that they should return to the pristine values and make America Great Again which was the campaign slogan of Mr. Trump. They considered Trump, given his strength of character, the most appropriate person to be in the saddle in the present time to restore God into their lives. He must also take more than passing interest in where the communities of Christians are being threatened. What they had not witnessed for a long time, upon the elections results announced and he was victorious, they gathered at the Convention Centre singing in the lobby the spiritual hymn, “How Great Thou Art.” He was described as high priest of the Church of MAGA. Hence, Mr. Trump’s resolve to stop the killings. Of course, there would be material interests, oil and solid minerals being disguised by some of the powerful forces behind him. Trump considers that as secondary. His primary aim is to protect his spiritual values that others profess and share with him. It should go without saying that America must have a committed Intelligence Community in our land. Mr. Trump says he knows the cells of the sponsors of the insecurity in this country.

    We cannot live in denial. The state of insecurity has been with us, with terrorists, bandits and kidnappers ravaging the land for about 16 years. Think of Chibok; more than 100 of the abducted girls are still in captivity. Some of the parents finding the experiences too nightmarish and suffocating have died. Think of Kajuru in Southern Kaduna, Benue, Jos, Nasarawa, Gombe, Zamfara, parts of Kogi–all the epicenters of insurgency and banditry, mostly in North Central, North Eastern and North-Western States. There have been reports that the insurgents have taken control of some communities and they collect tolls and taxes from them.

    I am not saying, from the foregoing that Mr. Trump should invade our country. Such missions always leave the country worse than the rescuers met it. It will be recalled that when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait snuffing life out of it, the country cried out for international help. The combined forces of Mr. George Bush and Tony Blair were sent. The experiences of Kuwait and Iraq as well as those of Syria, Libya, and Afghanistan should be a lesson to us. Saddam Hussein was eliminated all right, but the country has not been the same again. The focus of the rescue missions was on oil. The answer to all this is for the leaders to be more humane, compassionate, permitting the milk of human kindness to run in their veins.

    The government should take the establishment of state police much more seriously; the government can no longer afford to remain distant from possible distress calls of their citizens, how much more from those who are unceasingly under siege. It is only to be expected that if we cannot put our house in order, and outsiders feel they would be impacted, it is natural they would want to get embroiled, especially where sectarian interests are involved.

    • This article was culled from www.radiatingthetruth.com

    • Abdu Rafiu is a renowned editor, newspaper manager and respected elder of journalism.
  • PDP govs split over expulsion of Wike, Fayose, Anyanwu, others

    PDP govs split over expulsion of Wike, Fayose, Anyanwu, others

    • Faction dissolves PDP structures in Imo, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Rivers
    • Tanimu Turaki elected unopposed as national chairman
    • INEC, Saraki, Adeleke, Kefas, Fubara, absent

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to have sunk deeper into crisis after the Damagum led faction made good its threat to proceed with the party’s National Convention in Ibadan  yesterday.

    The faction wielded the big stick, expelling Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose, the party’s national secretary Samuel Anyanwu and its national legal adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN).

    But two state governors elected on the platform of the party-Adamu Fintiri (Adamawa) and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) immediately dissociated themselves from the expulsion.

    They said no one discussed the move with them, wondering how the expulsion would help the party.

    Fayose was at the time of his expulsion yesterday celebrating his 65th birthday in Lagos.

    Also axed were the PDP National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, Acting National Chairman of the Wike faction of the party, Mohammed Abdulrahman, Chairman of the faction’s newly inaugurated Board of Trustees (BoT) Mao Ohuabunwa, Austin Nwachukwu, George Turner, Abraham Amali and Dan Orbih.

    Wike’s loyalists branded the development an early Christmas show.

    Former Special Duties Minister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki from Kebbi State, who had earlier been tipped for the position of National Chairman by the divided PDP Governors’ Forum, was elected unopposed.

    He became the only aspirant, following the announcement that his co-aspirant, Senator Yakubu Lado from Katsina State, had stepped down.

    Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were not at the event, apparently in obedience to  two rulings of the Federal High Court, Abuja to keep off.

    Several prominent members of the party were also not in attendance.

    Among them were former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido.

    Saraki had warned that the convention would serve no purpose and declared that he would not be there.

    Lamido had also said he would not be in attendance following alleged decision of the party to block him from purchasing nomination form for the position of national chairman.

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday halted the convention and ordered that Lamido be accommodated in the election process.

    Also absent yesterday were Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who was said to be outside the country; Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara; Minority leader in the Senate Abba Moro and Minority leader in the House of Representatives Linda Chinda.

    Besides the expulsion, the convention also dissolved the executives of the party in Rivers, Abia, Imo, Plateau and Enugu states, perceived to be in control of Wike’s supporters.

    The motion for the expulsion was moved by former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, while host Governor Seyi Makinde moved for the dissolution of the state EXCOs.

    George said that PDP members were bound by and must adhere to Section 40 of its Constitution as amended.

    According to him, political parties are voluntary organisations and members may wish to join or not.

    “These people above have committed various breaches of the constitution by holding parallel congresses, canvassing votes for other parties, and sponsoring litigations against the party, among others,” he said.

    George said the actions and character of Wike and others had brought ridicule to the party.

    The motion was unanimously supported by party members present at the convention.

    They said the expulsion and dissolution order are in accordance with the Section 33 sub section 2 of the 2017 Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).

    Why I can’t align myself with Wike’s expulsion —Fintiri

    In distancing himself from the expulsion of Wike and others yesterday, Governor Fintiri said the party development might worsen its internal tensions.

    The governor in a statement on his verified X account @GovernorAUF last night said:  “I, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, Governor of Adamawa State, wish to categorically state that I dissociate myself from the position of expelling the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Wike, from PDP.

    “I believe that this decision is not in the best interest of the party, and I will 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.

    “I urge all stakeholders to work towards healing the divisions within the party and to strive for unity and cohesion. As a party man, I am committed to supporting efforts that promote peace, stability, and progress within the PDP.

    “Let me reiterate that my position is guided by the desire for peace and reconciliation, and I will continue to work towards achieving this goal.”

    Mutfwang too

    Governor Mutfwang’s position was similar to Fintiri’s.

    The governor in a statement through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, distanced himself from “the expulsion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike; former governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose and Samuel Anyanwu alongside other leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”

    He said the matter was “neither discussed by Governors Forum nor at NEC before the motion was presented.”

    He insisted 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 towards resolving the internal challenges currently confronting the PDP. He reiterated the need for unity, dialogue, and collective effort in rebuilding and repositioning the party.

    Expulsion illegal, says Bature

    One of the expelled men, Umar Bature faulted it.

    “It’s for their village heads! The convention they claim to be having is illegal null and void,” he said in a short statement.

    He was the PDP national organising secretary and a member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    Mr. Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, said: “When people decide to start their own detty December in November, one can’t but ignore whatever comes out of their mouths.

    “They gathered in Ibadan to do a party, enjoy themselves and got intoxicated. They are free to say anything.”

    Deputy National Youth Leader of the party and PDP NWC member, Timothy Osadolor, said: “Their claim about expelling these persons brings to mind a pertinent question: who is expelling whom? Is it the saboteurs that are now expelling those who are asking that things be done in a sane manner, in accordance with the constitution of the party?

    “No matter how much you try to deodorize a foul-smelling item, it would still emit its true smell; and if you dress up a pig, it would still roll in the mud.

    Read Also: Wike offers 5,000 households free cooking gas cylinder, six-month refill 

    “It is as clear as daylight, and I will say it repeatedly, that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has ambitions that he has not disclosed to other governors and leaders of the party.

    “Otherwise, he cannot claim to be unaware that what he is leading is leaning towards the doom of his presidential ambition—if he has one—and towards doom for the party as well.

    “I have said it again and again that those governors and leaders being led by Governor Seyi Makinde should put on their thinking caps and face the reality that this party is splintered, bleeding, and in need of healing and reconciliation, which can only be done in a non-cantankerous atmosphere where there is sincerity.

    “Let everybody acknowledge that they have erred against one another, and let everyone be truthful to ourselves.

    “The issue of suspending and counter-suspending won’t help the PDP. The lifespan of the current NWC will expire on December 10, and this party will enter a stalemate where there won’t be a legitimate NWC or a legitimate Board of Trustees, or any organ to form a caretaker committee that can midwife the next national convention for the PDP.

    “Therefore, I think it is not too late, and a proper convention can still be held by all stakeholders at an agreed date. Otherwise, this show of shame—where you have only seventeen states being accredited in Ibadan as against the 36 states and the FCT—represents enough embarrassment.

    “Also, INEC has refused to fall for the shenanigans of those who organised the Ibadan early-Christmas party that is ongoing.

    “INEC has done the needful by not being party to the early Christmas show that the Oyo State governor has put up for his friends in the PDP.

    “However, I agree with the view that it is good if he can talk to those in his group so that when they come to Abuja on Monday morning, they can have the grace and clarity of mind to know what to put on the table before PDP leaders who are not party to the owambe going on in Ibadan this weekend.

    “Clearly, they lack the locus, they lack the numbers, and they lack the capacity to do that which they have claimed (about suspending some party members); talk is cheap.”

    A three term member of the House of Representatives and former member of PDP NEC, Hon Teejay Yusuf, however differed.

    His words: “To me, there is something positive that they have achieved for the party; at least, now, everybody in Ibadan has seen banners of PDP and they know that PDP is alive and well.”

    The expelled members were initially suspended for a month two weeks ago for alleged anti-party activities by the Damagum group.

    The Wike group responded by suspending Damagum, Debo Ologunagba, the party’s spokesperson, Taofeek Arapaja, deputy national vice chairman (South), Daniel Woyenguikoro, national financial secretary, Sulaiman Kadade, national youth leader, and Setonji Koshoedo, deputy national secretary.

    The group named the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as acting national chairman.

    How Damagum was confirmed as National Chair

    The motion for the confirmation of Damagum as national chairman was moved by the

    Chairman of the Edo State chapter of PDP, Hon. Tony Aziegbemi and seconded by Edward Marshal.

    Aziegbemi said this was in accordance with the Section 32 of the Constitution of the PDP as amended.

    Addressing the convention earlier, Governor Makinde and Damagum had called for calm among the delegates.

    Damagum apologised to the gathering that the event started late.

    He said it was an honor for the delegates to have travelled from far places all over Nigeria to be part of the convention, saying the decision shows their commitment to the party.

    In his brief remarks Makinde said the convention would be remembered as one that brought about the party’s  turnaround.

    He also urged the delegates to take advantage of the visit to the state to have a feel of its cuisine and hospitality.

    Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang moved the motion for the dissolution of the Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) to give way for the election of new officers.

    Present at the convention were Governors Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) , Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa) and Caleb Mutfwang  (Plateau).

    Also there were former Governor of Plateau State Jonah Jang, former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, Chief Tom Ikimi, former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Senators Ahmed Ningi, Chief .Onikepo Oshodi, Deputy National Secretary of PDP Setonji Koshoedo, Chairman of the Damagum faction BoT, Chief Adolphus Wabara, Chief Ben Obi, Chief Segun Adegoke, Chief Omolade Oluwateru, Ladi Adebutu and Senator Natasha  Akpoti.

    The convention was held amid legal fireworks in courts up to the eve of the exercise.

    While a Federal  High Court presided over by Justice Peter Lifu halted the convention, based on the relief sought by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, who claimed that he was excluded from the chairmanship context, an Oyo State  High Court presided over by Justice Ladiran Akintola extended the ex parte order given to the faction till December 8.

    Another  Federal High Court Abuja presided over by Justice James Omotosho had previously ruled that the convention should not be monitored or its outcome be recognised by INEC following the suit instituted by the Wike/Anyanwu faction that the preparations violated the party’s guidelines and the Electoral Act.

    There was tension midway into convention yesterday when the chairman of the Organising Committee, Ahmadu Fintiri, said that he was handicapped due to the absence of INEC officials.

    The Adamawa governor said: “In the absence of INEC, it is not within my purview to go on with the convention. It is up to the delegates to decide.”

    However, Senator Ben Obi, secretary of the convention organising committee, moved a motion that the committee be empowered to proceed with the election by the consent of the delegates, who chorused “yes.”

    After that, Obi said: “I hereby declare that we should hold the convention.”

    Turaki’s candidacy: Kebbi PDP boycotts Ibadan national convention

    The Kebbi State chapter of the PDP said it would not be part of the Ibadan convention.

    The chapter’s Publicity Secretary, Sani Dododo, said the decision was on account of the candidacy of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.

    The chapter questioned Turaki’s legitimacy as a party member, citing his alleged suspension in April 2023 for what it called gross misconduct, anti-party activities, and failure to pay party dues.

    The suspension, issued by his Nasarawa 1 Ward, also affected seven other members, including former gubernatorial candidate Gen. Bello S. Yaki.

    In a petition dated October 25, 2025, the Kebbi State PDP formally notified the chairman of the screening committee for the national convention of its rejection of Turaki’s nomination based on these issues.

    The petition, jointly signed by Chairman Alhaji Usman Bello Suru and Secretary Abubakar Bawa Kalgo, included a list of signatures and phone numbers from both the state working committee and non-working committee members, all expressing their opposition to Turaki’s candidacy.

    The Kebbi PDP chapter warned that anyone presenting themselves as a delegate from the state would be doing so without the party’s authorisation.

    All delegates from Kebbi State reportedly stayed at home in protest.

    BoT rejects own Reconciliation Committee report, rejects Caretaker Committee

    The Board of Trustees of the Damagum faction yesterday disowned the report of the Reconciliation Committee it set up to find a lasting solution to crisis in  the party

    The BoT specifically rejected  the committee’s recommendation that the convention be shelved .

    It said the convention must proceed as planned and  in line with the Supreme Court judgment that the affairs of political parties are their internet affairs.

    According to him, the report of the six-man committee headed by Amb. Hassan Adamu has not been discussed and adopted by the board, and therefore cannot be taken as the official position of the BoT.

    The statement: “The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hereby categorically dissociates and distances itself from the purported Report of the BoT Reconciliation Committee being circulated in some section of the media.

    “The BoT states in clear terms that the content of the said Report is not and does not represent the official position of the Board. Having not been considered or adopted by the BoT, it cannot in any form or guise whatsoever be regarded as the position of the BoT.

    “The BoT is unwavering in its endorsement of the conduct of the elective National Convention as scheduled on Saturday, 15th to Sunday, 16th November, 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State capital for the purpose of electing new set of leaders to pilot the affairs of the party in the next four years.

    “This position is guided by the Judgment of the Supreme Court which reaffirmed the supremacy of a political party in the conduct of its internal affairs.

    “In that regard, the BoT rejects any suggestion for a Caretaker Committee for the party. Such idea cannot be contemplated as the Board and, of course the PDP, have irreversibly decided for an elective National Convention which is within the scope of the internal affairs of the party to which the courts have no jurisdiction.

    “The BoT therefore urges Party members to remain committed and focused on the success of the Elective National Convention.”

    The latest implosion in the PDP is the second major of such development in the party’s history; the first being that of 2014 when such prominent members as former vice president Atiku Abubakar, Dr.Bukola Saraki, Mr.Rotimi Amaechi pulled out of the party.

    The group known as N-PDP and led by Alhaji Kawu Baraje teamed up with the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The APC presidential candidate, the late General Muhammadu Buhari, went on to win the 2015 presidential election, defeating Dr. Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP.