The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, has described a recent attack on the State governor, Bala Mohammed by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, as self-serving and baseless aimed at scoring cheap political points.
Dogara had, on Tuesday, called out Mohammed describing him as an ingrate and a traitor for daring to take on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nysom Wike in a verbal war.
In the statement titled, “Let the truth be told,” Dogara has said Mohammed’s attack on Wike was surprising because the former Rivers State governor had single handedly financed Mohammed’s governorship campaign.
“What is baffling is that the so-called transactional Wike did not demand anything in return nor place any condition for all that he did,” Dogara said, adding that the Bauchi governor’s record of betrayal was common knowledge.
“Time will not permit me to list those Bala has betrayed, which includes his known godfather and our father, Baba Waziri, Alhaji Bello Kirfi, elder statesman and former Minister under President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic,” Dogara had said.
However, while reacting to Dogara’s statement on Friday, Sulaiman said the ex-Speaker’s allegations against GovErnie Mohammed were nothing more than an attempt to tarnish the reputation of a leader committed to the progress of state.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mukhtar Kobi, Sulaiman said the criticism coming from Dogara lacked credibility and were only “verbose, baseless, and self-serving diatribe.”
“Dogara’s allegations against Governor Mohammed were nothing more than an attempt to tarnish the reputation of a leader committed to the progress of Bauchi State,” he said.
“The governor’s record earned him the people’s mandate, not backroom deals or personal favours.
“Unlike some politicians who rely solely on personal wealth, Governor Bala Mohammed’s leadership thrives on inclusivity and transparency. His campaign was powered by trust, not the whims of a single individual,” he said.
While dismissing Dogara’s claims of betrayal, Sulaiman emphasised that Governor Mohammed had consistently worked towards the party’s unity and collective success, adding that it was dishonest for anyone to suggest otherwise.
