Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of using federal agencies to persecute political opponents. This comes in the wake of the arrest and arraignment of his Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing charge.
During a press conference, Governor Mohammed expressed his frustration, stating, “I woke up to an accusation that I’m being accused of terrorism. My commissioner of finance is being held by the EFCC, and my name is being mentioned in the suit even though I have immunity.”
He further lambasted the federal government for its perceived lack of development in Bauchi State, saying, “They have not done 1km of road in Bauchi State. They’ve not provided water. Even the security agencies, I’m the one paying them to work for us, and they have the guts to talk.”
Governor Mohammed also voiced his discontent with the proposed tax reform laws, arguing that they would exacerbate the plight of ordinary Nigerians. “I have kept quiet for too long. I’m not a coward. The federal government should look at its tax system. In spite of all the impurities, they are still going ahead with it to impoverish the common man and the sub-nationals (states), and we are keeping quiet,” he said.
The governor’s remarks took a more confrontational tone as he accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government of using the judiciary and the EFCC to target those outside their party. “The APC-led federal government think they can use the court and the EFCC to persecute and prosecute Nigerians that are not in their party. If they don’t stop, we are going to declare war,” he warned.
Mohammed made it clear that he would not be intimidated into joining the APC, declaring, “I won’t allow anyone to criminalise me because I’m not in the APC, and I refuse to join the APC. I will not join the APC.”
This strong stance from Governor Mohammed comes at a time when the EFCC has intensified its crackdown on alleged financial crimes, with the arraignment of Mr. Adamu and three other officials on charges of conspiracy, conversion of public funds, and terrorism financing. The case has sparked a debate on the use of federal agencies in political battles, with some viewing it as a move to silence opposition voices.
As tensions rise between the Bauchi State government and the federal authorities, the governor’s vow to “declare war” has set the stage for a potential escalation in the ongoing political and legal confrontations.