Anietie Udobit, Abuja
Former speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has accused Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, of ingratitude and betrayal of the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nyesom Wike.
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Dogara alleged that Wike played a significant role in financing Bala Mohammed’s gubernatorial election in 2019 but is now being painted as a “transactional politician” by the Bauchi governor.
Dogara, in response to Bala Mohammed’s recent criticism of Wike, labelled the governor as a “serial betrayer and ingrate.” He said the Bauchi governor’s comments revealed a pattern of treachery and moral bankruptcy.
In a statement signed by himself and made available to journalists in Bauchi yesterday, Dogara stated that: “As someone who knows the history of their relationship, I cannot remain silent in the face of this injustice. My silence would amount to complicity. I am not defending Wike, but I am stating the raw truth as I know it.”
Dogara recounted events leading up to Bala Mohammed’s emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in 2018.
According to him, Mohammed’s chances of securing the ticket were slim due to the influence of his main rival, Senator Abdul Ningi, who had the state party structure in his favour.
Dogara said he approached Wike for help, “I called Wike and pleaded with him to intervene in Bauchi. Wike assured me he would help, even without knowing we were backing Bala Mohammed. Wike then appointed his close ally, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, as chairman of the primary election panel and personally facilitated his travel to Bauchi using a private jet,” Dogara explained.
He revealed that Wike bore all the financial expenses for the primary election process and did not attach any conditions to his assistance.
Dogara further disclosed that after Bala Mohammed secured the PDP ticket, it became evident that the former minister lacked the financial capacity to fund his campaign.
“When it became clear Bala Mohammed had no money for his campaign, we organized a fundraiser in Abuja, which turned out to be a flop, raising only N48 million, out of which N20 million had already been spent on organizing the event,” Dogara said.
Facing a financial crisis, Dogara and his team decided to approach Wike once again for help. He also recounted a visit to Port Harcourt with Bala Mohammed, where Wike initially expressed displeasure at the unannounced arrival of the Bauchi governor.
“Wike recounted how Bala Mohammed, during their time as ministers, denied him a land allocation and humiliated him during a visit to his office. Despite this, Wike still agreed to help, warning us that we would regret our decision if Bala became governor,” Dogara said.
Dogara narrated how Wike provided a financial lifeline and even gave them a private jet to return to Abuja, emphasizing that Wike never demanded anything in return for his support.
Dogara lamented what he described as Bala Mohammed’s penchant for betrayal and ingratitude, citing several instances where the governor had turned against his benefactors, including his political godfather, Alhaji Bello Kirfi.
“Bala Mohammed is a man who harbors grand delusions and contempt for the truth. He has consistently betrayed those who stood by him in his time of need. Power, for him, is a poison that blinds him to decency,” Dogara said.
He added that Bala Mohammed, who once praised Wike as “courageous, focused, and determined,” now seeks to tarnish his image because their relationship has soured.
Dogara concluded by urging Governor Bala Mohammed to reflect on the values of loyalty and gratitude, reminding him of the adage: “Never break the calabash from which you once drank honey.”
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