Wike, others want to destroy my name, integrity – Bauchi gov

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, stated that there is a deliberate plot by some political actors to tarnish his reputation and destroy his integrity.

Mohammed, who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, dismissed the allegations of terrorism financing against him, saying that Bauchi remains one of the safest states in the North.

He particularly accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of allegedly being behind efforts to link him with banditry and destablisie his state.

He said, “And I’m a governor, serving governor, and my state is the most secure state in the northeast, if not in northern Nigeria. And we did this through just not like that, through knowledge, through tact, through wisdom, and nothing of that sort had been associated with me.

But I know the shenanigans. I know the mud-slinging, people giving a dog a name in order to hang it. Opposition leaders like me must be destroyed. Otherwise, there is no reason somebody can associate me with banditry.

“And I think I need to clear myself at every level. I’ll be bothered because my name and integrity will be destroyed. I’m a politician.”

The governor also described Wike as an “undertaker” in the Peoples Democratic Party, insisting the minister is not a genuine member of the party.

Mohammed added that attempts had also been made to implicate his relatives.

He said, “There are people behind it, and I know, and I’m going to mention them today. Somebody said he’s going to put fire in my state, FCT Minister Wike.

“A rising politician, a leader of the opposition, to be accused of terrorism, it’s very painful. One of my nephews was mentioned in the corruption charge and there was nothing like that, nothing.

“I have written to the Attorney General of the Federation. I’ve copied all the agencies, and I’m going to escalate it to the international community, asking for protection because this is victimisation, protection of my fundamental human rights.”

Mohammed further accused people around President Bola Tinubu of working against him.

“Some want me to join the All Progressives Congress, some don’t want, like Wike. Wike is a big drag on the administration, and the President should know. I have nothing against him.

“He is an undertaker in our party. He is not there as a genuine member of the PDP, and I fought him. I was even at the secretariat when he went there to take over. You cannot be in two places at the same time. It’s against the rule of nature,” he said.

The governor also warned that political intolerance and impunity could have serious consequences for the country.

“He is with them. So, please, let us be honest, even while we are looking at this thing from the superficial point of view, because all these issues have consequences.

“We are the leaders today. But we should not think that we are arrogant and that we can do things with a lot of impunity, and nobody questions it,” he added.

Addressing supporters during a “thank you” visit to Abua-Odual local government in Rivers state on Thursday, Wike dismissed the allegations as an attempt by Mohammed to shift blame for his own political failures.

“I watched what the Bauchi governor is saying, that all the problems he’s having, that I’m the one because I said I will put fire in his state. So if I have such power, why are you fighting? If I have such power to put fire, why are you fighting?” Wike said.

The former Rivers State governor insisted that the Bauchi governor’s travails had nothing to do with him, arguing that Bala was battling the consequences of his own actions within the PDP in Bauchi.

“Go and face your problem. You came to my state, I said ‘be careful, leave my state alone.’ You want to impose party leader in my state. Today, he doesn’t have a party to bring his successor,” he stated.

Reacting to Bala’s claim that he was responsible for the alleged Economic and Financial Crimes Commission pressure on some of his associates, Wike distanced himself from the anti-graft agency, insisting that law enforcement actions should not be politicised.

“Now EFCC is chasing them, he said it’s me. What’s my business? If your state is clean, go there and enjoy yourself,” the minister added.

Wike maintained that his disagreements with Bala were strictly within the confines of party leadership and not about personal finances or governance choices.

“So this is just to tell Nigerians, tell them to leave me alone; go and face your problems. I’m only fighting with you as party leadership. I’m not interested in what you spend,” he said.

Culled from punch