The Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, has declared that he would rather forfeit his life than betray his political benefactor and predecessor, Ibrahim Gaidam.

‎Buni made the declaration on Tuesday while addressing delegates at the just-concluded All Progressives Congress congress held in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.

‎“I would rather die than betray him. I remain deeply grateful to him for the role he played in my political journey. I will never forget where I am coming from, and I will never turn my back on the man who trusted and supported me,” the governor said.

‎He noted that his political career was built on trust and insisted that betrayal had never been part of his record.

‎“I am a product of trust. I have never betrayed anybody; it is not in my record. I always want to be remembered as someone who never betrays anybody,” he added.

‎The governor charged newly elected party officials to remain steadfast, urging them to uphold trust and integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities.

‎He also outlined achievements recorded in the past seven years of his administration, particularly in education, primary healthcare, empowerment, and commerce, assuring residents that these sectors would continue to receive priority attention.

On the issue of succession, Buni called on members of the APC in the state to pray for divine guidance in the emergence of the party’s next governorship candidate.

‎He urged party faithful to support a candidate with the capacity to unite members and sustain the “good works” of his administration.

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has reiterated that Ireti Kingibe would not be returning to the Senate in 2027 because she has “no project to show”.

Kingibe, who represents the FCT in the upper legislative chamber, was elected senator on the Labour Party (LP) platform in 2023.

In 2024, Wike vowed that the senator would not be re-elected in 2027.

Before this, Kingibe claimed Wike had refused to respond to her letters and messages amid rising insecurity in Abuja.

The senator also posited that Wike did not have the interest of the FCT at heart, claiming that residents were battling water scarcity amid other challenges.

Speaking at a media parley in Abuja on Monday, Wike tied his prediction of Kingibe not returning as senator to project delivery.

“I had said it more than one year ago, Senator Ireti, you won’t come back as a senator. That’s why you people don’t like people who tell you the truth. It’s bitter. Let her show one project,” he said.

He added that Kingibe has been absent from satellite communities where folks actually turn out to vote.

During the recent FCT area council elections, Wike was criticised by opposition political parties for visiting several polling units during the vote.

The minister defended his action during the media chat, adding that he has the right, as the territory’s chief security officer, to visit polling units.

“I’m the governor of FCT. For security, I have to find out what’s going on. I don’t need to be told. I’m not a candidate in the election. As the chief security officer, I have the right to have a view of what was going on,” he said.

“I wasn’t on the ballot, and I never said people should vote for the APC. What I said was that the candidates supporting Mr President are the candidates I will support.”

He shared that he visited about 10 polling units and rejected insinuations of interfering with the poll.

“And how does it influence (the election)? When did Nigerians conduct a referendum that they are not happy that I, as the chief security, went to 10 polling units to check what was going on?” he asked.

Wike dismissed comparisons to past ministers.

“What’s my business? You have said that the previous ministers you had never bothered about development. So, because they didn’t do development, I should not do development?” he asked.

The Senator representing Ogun West and Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Solomon Adeola, fondly called Yayi, has called on his teeming supporters and those urging him to contest for the 2027 gubernatorial race in the state to desist from attacking any other aspirant on his behalf

Adeola stated that his attention had been drawn to recent statements and opinions, particularly on social media, arising from declarations by some respected citizens in the state who wanted to contest the 2027 governorship seat.

The lawmaker said that he had noted that many of his supporters who wanted him to run for the governorship have been taking positions and making detestable statements against some aspirants in the same party, the All Progressives Congress.

In a statement personally signed by the senator and made available to journalists on Monday, Adeola said that he has, however, not made any official statement regarding any aspirant’s aspiration or responded to the unprovoked media attacks against his person or political career.

He added that he has also neither authorised anyone to respond to such attacks on his behalf.

The senator stated that “I am presently focused on serving my constituents in Ogun West Senatorial District, Ogun State, and indeed, Nigeria. It is not in my character to derogate, demean, or ridicule any of my fellow party members based on their genuine aspirations.

“In view of this, I want to appeal to all my teeming supporters, well-wishers, and loyalists to desist from attacking the person or ideals of any aspirant, ostensibly in my defense or support.

“This appeal is pursuant to a rancour-free process for all the upcoming activities of our party, APC, as we progress towards the general elections.

“I passionately appeal to all my supporters and party members to always bear in mind that we are all members of a great political family and we must eschew bitterness and rancour in our relationship.

“While I greatly appreciate the genuine love and support for me by my supporters, I urge restraint and caution in the days ahead.

“I urge all my supporters and loyalists not to be distracted and remain focused with eyes on the ball and the goal we have envisioned for our state for over a decade.

“Going forward, let us continue to showcase the work that has been done by my humble self, the governor of our state, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, under the Renewed Hope Agenda as we move toward party primaries and general elections in less than a year.

“Our focus should be on continuity of the ongoing reforms of our great party, APC, at both the state and national level and not on any unproductive internal bickering.”