Bauchi Speaker berates Dogara over attack on gov

The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, on Thursday, took on ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, over his recent criticism of Governor Bala Mohammed.

Sulaiman, in a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesperson, Mukhtar Kobi, described the criticism as a “verbose, baseless, and self-serving diatribe.”

Dogara had on Tuesday issued a lengthy statement where he described Governor Mohammed as an ingrate and a betrayer for daring to launch a verbal attack on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nysom Wike.

In the statement titled, “Let the truth be told,” Dogara said Mohammed’s attack on Wike was surprising because Wike financed Mohammed’s campaign to become governor.

Dogara said he and others supporting Mohammed to become governor were shocked that despite being a former minister he had no money to fund his governorship bid.

He said apart from Wike taking control of the PDP primary to ensure Mohammed’s emergence as the PDP flag-bearer, he went on to provide Mohammed with money and logistics, which enabled him to win the election and become a governor.

“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 said.

But the Bauchi Speaker on Thursday, maintained that “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.”

Suleiman described Governor Mohammed as a statesman whose leadership transcended personal interest and political manoeuvring.

He said, “The governor’s record of valuable services, grassroots appeal, and commitment to governance earned him the people’s mandate, not backroom deals or personal favours.”

He dismissed Dogara’s claims of betrayal, referring to it as a distortion of politics.

He addressed Dogara’s allegation that Governor Bala lacked the financial capacity to run his 2018 campaign, stating that the governor’s success was built on collective support from the people.

 “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.

He emphasised that the governor had consistently worked towards the party’s unity and collective success, saying “It is dishonest to suggest otherwise.”