Bauchi governor denies plan to foment trouble in Nigeria

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has denied alleged plan to cause trouble in the country in connivance with an unnamed serving and former governor in the North West.

Mohammed disclosed this, yesterday, at Government House, while receiving the report of a panel of inquiry on land use and farmer/herder clashes.

He said he was disturbed to read on pages of national dailies that some governors in the North were trying to cause trouble in the country.

Mohammed said: “Let me use this medium to clear the issue of some governors and, of course, I have seen some insinuations that a North East governor, may be referring to me or some kind of insinuation that I’m trying to foment trouble or cause riots in Northern Nigeria in conjunction with a former governor and a serving governor…”

He said: “I want to categorically dissociate myself from this kind of action. My antecedent as a civil servant, a senator, and a minister does not show this kind of action. We are working very hard to make sure that Nigeria and Northern Nigeria are safe.

“Some people are threatened, may be because of the rising profile of some of us, and they are using this to cause disaffection between some of us and security agencies.”

The governor did not mention his alleged accusers. He urged security agencies to swing into action to investigate the matter.

Affirming his innocence, he said: “Please, come and prosecute me, irrespective of our constitutional protection, because to me, this is the last thing I can do.

“I believe in the Nigerian project. I believe in the unity of Nigeria. Bauchi State has benefited so much from the Federal Government since I became the governor. We got over N12 billion from Buhari’s administration to build houses. We got a refund of over N12 billion, which we have used to set Bauchi on a path of prosperity.

“We have benefited so much from the Federal Ministry of Finance. We will be the last to cause disaffection between the state and the Federal Government. Those who are looking for reasons to raise their profiles should look for other means. They should not use Bala Mohammed.”