APC slams Bauchi govt over removal of Bello Kirfi as Waziri of Bauchi

From David Kuvie Bauchi

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Bauchi State chapter says the stripping of former minister of Special Duties, Muhammad Bello Kirfi, of his traditional title of Waziri by Governor Bala Mohammed was disrespectful.

The Bauchi Emirate on the directive of the Ministry for Local Government Affairs and Chieftaincy Affairs, had removed the 90 year old elderstateman citing being disloyal and disrespectful to the governor.

Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of the party in Bauchi, Comrade Sabo Mohammed accused the state government of undermining the affairs of the traditional institution in the state.

Mohammed, who is also the spokesperson of the APC Governorship candidate, Ambassador Sadique Baba Abubakar, said the suspension of highly respected traditional title holders in Bauchi Emirate is becoming a reccuring incident.

According to him the Jakadan Bauchi was suspended in politically motivated circumstance as well as the Wakilin Birni who was also suspended in what majority of the citizenry viewed as politically motivated.

“And now it just happened to Wazirin Bauchi who only spoke about the state of the nation as well as the state of the state affairs in Bauchi state,” he said.

He said the party’s perception is that as a Nigerian, Kirfi is entitled to his own opinion.

“It’s his personal opinion and I think a government that is claiming to be a democratic government should as well respect the divergent opinion of the citizenry.

“We are calling on all the right thinking Bauchi State indigenes to rise to this challenge because the treasure which our traditional institution represents, is being intimidated, ans subjected to political manipulation by the government of the day to achieve or to score a political goal.

“It will not augur well for the Bauchi Emirate as well as the traditional institution which we highly respect and cherish.

“So it is not a good development and we are condemning it in totality and we are ready and willing to ensure that people are given their constitutional rights to voice their opinion on any issue that is within the confine of the law”

Mohammed observed that the reason given for the removal of the Wazirin Bauchi was sketchy, saying it does not tally with the reality on ground.

“That’s why we said at the onset, it is just because Bello Kirfi called the leaders of thought across the 20 local governments and had spoken about his position on the presidency as well as the situation in Bauchi which requires a rescuer, somebody who is going accommodate all the interests and the intricacies of governance in the state,” he said.

“So, by and large, our understanding directly, based on his body posture, Bello Kirfi has given a vote of no confidence on the government that he has worked assiduously to form.

“That is why we said this thing is becoming a recurring incident and it is not good for the government and it will not augur well for the traditional institution who are ordinarily, based on the provision of the constitution, not partisan.

“We call on all the right thinking people of Bauchi state to ensure that our highly respected traditional institution is not allowed to be used for political motive.

We as a party, we respect the traditional institution and we know that they have their own limitations and this is not the first time this kind of thing is happening under this administration.

“Why now, when the Waziri of Bauchi called a meeting, expressed his opinion on national and state issues and that is what we felt triggered this action, so the reason given is just a cover up.

“We respect the traditional institution but look at it, it said ‘on the instructions of the Honourable Commissioner ministry of Local government and chieftaincy affairs, so that is what brought the iota of political undertone on the issue”

Mohammed appealed to the Bauchi state government to respect the divergent opinion of the citizenry, irrespective of the party affiliation.

“Our thinking, as somebody who claimed to be a democrat should as well listen to the constructive criticisms with a view to at least correct the problems raised by some of these elderstatesmen in the state,” he said.

“From the information we received, there are lots of dissatisfaction on the way and manner in which the administration of the state is being run and that is why they decided to say that they would talk about the state of affairs in a later date and that’s why this decision we feel is a precondition to scuttle that meeting that is led by Bello Kirfi to categorically and unequivocally state their position on the state of affairs.

“So we are saying that, this government as a democratic one should learn to adapt to the tenets of democracy and one of the important tenets of democracy which is lacking under this administration is for the government to accommodate divergent views on issues that are within the confine of the law”