Consider people’s interest before leaving PDP, group advises Bauchi gov, Bala Mohammed

Consider people’s interest before leaving PDP, group advises Bauchi gov, Bala Mohammed

By Idun Maximus

Following the wave of defections sweeping across the political landscape, a group of lawyers in Bauchi state has advised Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, to consider the over riding interest of the state before taking any political move.

They also insisted that rule of law, justice and accountability must be upheld in the interest of tax payers’ money.

AbeyaNews reports of rumours that Bala Muhammed may also defect to All Progressives Congress (APC) as his second tenure draws closer to an end following his alleged investigation by the anti graft agency.

Addressing Journalists in Jos yesterday, Usamat Kabir Adam, Vice chairman of the group  said, “We shall start by praising Almighty God for this unique opportunity to address some burning national issues especially as they concern the EFCC, on-going corruption cases against the PDP-led administration in Bauchi State and the growing conversation, debate and divergent views across the public domain pertaining to the said imminent defection of the Governor of Bauchi State, His Excellency, Governor Bala Muhammed, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Recently, the governor of Akwa Ibom State of the PDP declared his support for President’s Tinubu’s re-election, come 2027. In doing so, he justified his decision by saying that there are people who oppose the President’s re-election bid in the open only for them to go there at night and pledge their support.

“Now whether our governor of Bauchi State belongs to this group of opposition leaders in view of unfolding developments in the polity remains a matter of public discussion.

“But with the defection last week of the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, the running mate to the PDP Presidential Candidate in 2023, Ifeanyi Okowa from the PDP to the APC and the heightened speculations, views and commentaries with which the public space has been occupied as to whether the on-going investigation of the latter by the EFCC influenced his decision to move to the party at the centre which certainly has seen attention on the rise about the potential or possibility for Governor Bala to do the same and defect to the APC, we share the concern of lots of citizens of Bauchi State on the matter for a number of reasons;

“We recognize the right of citizens, politicians and other Nigerians to in the exercise of their right join any political party of their choice. So, the Chairman PDP Governor’s Forum in the person of Kauran Bauchi is free to join the APC.

“However, what is of greater concern, interest and importance to the populace in Bauchi State is how EFCC and ICPC’s engagement on corruption cases against his administration and its officials will fare going forward if at the end of the day he defects to the APC.

“As a matter of public knowledge, Governor Bala and a member of his family were facing a couple of corruption allegations before he became governor in 2019. As his 2nd tenure in office as governor winds down in 2027, the society is anxiously waiting how the anti-graft bodies will resume the trial for the cases that became stalled due to the immunity he currently enjoys from criminal prosecution in addition to the cases that emanated during his tenure as Governor.

“Interestingly, two of these cases which are said to be many have to do with the current and the immediate past Accountant General of Bauchi State. Against the backdrop of all these, we believe we are speaking the minds of the majority of the citizenry in Bauchi if we advise the APC-led Federal Government and the national leadership of the APC to be careful and circumspect a great deal in how they want to handle the touted defection of Governor Bala Muhammad to the fold of their party at this material time given the circumstances.

“For the sake of politics, we understand that it means nothing for the two sides to close ranks for the sake of working for President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 or any other interest they may have as if the governor of Bauchi State has not had occasions to publicly and vigorously criticize President Tinubu.

“More important than all this, however, we want the whole world to be on alert that while the average citizen in Bauchi State may be having sympathy for President Tinubu and the APC come 2027, a lot will for sure depend on the disposition of government towards supporting the efforts to unravel the truth about the financial health and resources of Bauchi State in the context of the on-going and other corruption cases in the offing featuring or involving the present administration in the state.

“Our people are conscious of how much the state has earned since the coming on board of the present administration. They are following all that has been happening with the local government administration pre and post autonomy. They are conscious of so many things and are correctly analyzing how better their life would have fared if the government fulfilled its election promises.

“So, to the average Bauchi person, let the Governor like any other politician join APC but this must have nothing to do with the process or efforts to determine the fate of how tax payer’s money which accrued under his watch fared. We are wiser as a people and politically, Bauchi State no dey carry last.”