Bala Mohammed, the governor of Bauchi State and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, has delivered a powerful rebuttal to recent accusations made by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. In a heated exchange, Mohammed labeled Wike a liar and defended his fellow governors against claims of arrogance.
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The conflict erupted when Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, threatened to destabilize PDP-controlled states if the governors interfered in party matters in Rivers. This threat followed the PDP governors’ endorsement of the current Rivers governor, Siminalayi Fubara, amid a political dispute with Wike.
In a statement to reporters, Mohammed expressed his astonishment at Wike’s remarks, asserting, “Wike’s words are not true. We PDP governors are not arrogant. We are diligently working for our states and our party.” He emphasized that the governors aimed to resolve issues in Rivers State, stating, “We want peace in our party. That’s why we supported Governor Fubara. We didn’t mean to upset anyone.”
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Mohammed condemned Wike’s threats toward other states, saying, “It’s wrong for a minister to talk about causing trouble in states he doesn’t control. We are all Nigerians and should work together.” He urged Wike to focus on his responsibilities in Abuja instead of meddling in state politics, adding, “Wike has an important job to do in the capital. He should concentrate on that instead of fighting with PDP governors.”
The PDP Governors’ Forum, under Mohammed’s leadership, issued a statement condemning Wike’s threats as “unbridled, irresponsible, and totally unacceptable.” The statement cautioned that Wike’s comments could jeopardize peace and unity within the party and reaffirmed their support for Governor Fubara as the legitimate leader of the PDP in Rivers State. “We stand by our decision to back Governor Fubara. No one person can change this, no matter how powerful they think they are,” the governors declared.
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In a poignant reminder of past solidarity, Mohammed urged Wike to recall the support he received from the PDP during his tenure as governor. “When Wike had problems as governor, we all stood by him. He shouldn’t forget that now,” he said.
The Bauchi governor called for unity within the PDP, stating, “Our party is bigger than any one person. We need to work together, not fight each other.” Other PDP members have echoed this sentiment, with Deputy National Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Abdullahi asserting that Wike’s comments do not pose a genuine threat to the party’s cohesion. “The PDP has faced bigger challenges in its 25-year history. No single person can destroy our party,” Abdullahi remarked.
In Rivers State, officials have voiced concerns over Wike’s interference. Sydney Gbara, the state’s Commissioner for Environment, called for security agencies to investigate Wike’s threats, saying, “Threatening 13 governors is like planning to cause trouble in the whole country. It’s not what we expect from a respected leader.”
The ongoing dispute raises alarms about the unity of the PDP, with some members fearing that the feud between Wike and the governors could hinder the party’s prospects in upcoming elections.
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Concluding his remarks, Mohammed called for an end to public hostilities, urging, “We need to stop this public fighting. Let’s sit down and talk about our problems like mature leaders. That’s the only way to make our party stronger.”
