Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed has opened up to G-5 Governors comprising Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Seyi Makinde; Samuel Ortom (Benue); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) on fears for his second term bid.
The Nation reports the G-5 Governors arrived in Bauchi, the state capital around 12:30 pm to woo Mohammed to their camp.
The G-5 is trying to capitalise on the perceived rift between Mohammed and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar.
Mohammed had complained to the national chairman of the party Senator Iyorchia Ayu, that Atiku sidelined him by refusing to see him after the presidential primary after he visited other aspirants.
He added that Atiku is allegedly working against his re-election bid in the State.
The Governor, who is the vice chairman of the Atiku Campaign Council in the Northeast, also alleged that Atiku picked campaign coordinators from his State without consultation with him.
In his letter to Ayu, the Bauchi Governor opened up on how he was hurt by Atiku and demanded an apology.
In his view, Atiku was bent on “punishing him for contesting the presidential primary and not stepping down for him”.
Mohammed’s letter of November 3 to the national chairman forced Ayu to lead a delegation to Bauchi last Saturday to appease him.
Speaking before a closed-door meeting with the G5 Governors Mohammed said he knows he can confide in them.
However, the Governor did not state whether he has joined the Wike’s camp or not
According to him: “I share a lot in common with the G-5 Governors. I’m supposed to be with the G-5 but they excommunicated me.
“They know I’ve challenges in Bauchi, the challenges of the party, challenges of treachery and mischief. When you know you have people like them, you feel secure
“I’m happy they are here. I have the opportunity of confiding in these people some of my worries, my fears, and my apprehension.
“You are aware that it’s no longer a secret that I wrote a letter to the national party about what I’ve found out that’s working against me and I wrote it with all honesty and sincerity and that’s why the party invited me to discuss with Atiku our leader.”
Addressing newsmen shortly after their closed-door meeting Wike said they were in the state on a solidarity visit to Mohammed.
He however did not reveal the outcome of the meeting other than they were on a solidarity visit adding that the G-5 is still open to reconciliation.
On the absence of Oyo Governor, Wike said Makinde is out of the country.