Bauchi Senator Tackles Governor Mohammed Over Banditry Comments

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Senator Shehu Umar Buba (Bauchi South Senatorial District) has reacted to an allegation of supporting banditry by Governor Bala Mohammed as baseless and malicious. 

Buba who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, said the governor’s statements were unfounded saying he will not be intimidated by such claims.

Speaking in a press statement released by his Legislative Assistant, Hassan Gajin Duguri, the Senator described the governor’s petition to President Tinubu as laughable and regrettable.”

He said he was only responding to the baseless accusation to set the record straight to debunk the falsehood. 

He condemned the Governor’s consistent insult of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu saying his utterances were meant to incite citizens against the Federal Government.

“As the Senator representing Bauchi South in the National Assembly, Senator Buba has endured Governor Bala Mohammed’s arrogance, excesses, and unbecoming behavior, which includes unfounded fabrications stemming from the senator’s defense of the President against repeated disparaging remarks,” the statement said.

“Governor Mohammed not only orchestrated the withdrawal of Senator Buba’s chieftaincy title but also employed political proxies to undermine his standing within the state. Such underhanded tactics reveal the governor’s desperation, and the senator refuses to be intimidated.”

The statement expressed no surprise at Governor Bala’s latest actions, which allegedly involve fabricating falsehoods in a petition to the President. According to the governor’s letter, he claims that one Abubakar Idris, a suspected bandit, and Zainab Aliyu Gado were registered to perform the pilgrimage through a supposed Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Shehu Buba, named Yahaya Ibrahim.

In response, the aide clarified: “Senator Buba does not have a Senior Legislative Aide by the name Yahaya Ibrahim. While it is the responsibility of security services to conduct due diligence on potential Hajj pilgrims, Senator Buba sponsors numerous individuals for the pilgrimage each year, based on recommendations from elders, community leaders, and religious figures.” 

Additionally, the aide stated, “We are aware that Hajiya Zainab Ali was thoroughly screened and permitted to perform Hajj, whereas Abubakar Idris was arrested for further investigation without any interference from the senator’s office.”

The statement further noted that “As Chairman of a crucial Senate committee, Senator Buba has actively championed initiatives aimed at counter-insurgency and anti-banditry, which are beginning to yield positive results.”

Highlighting the governor’s ongoing attacks, the statement remarked, “Governor Bala Mohammed has waged a political war against Senator Buba and others who dare to question his leadership style and arrogance.”

The statement recounted, “In 2019, when Bala Mohammed faced political challenges, Senator Buba personally introduced him to then APC Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, through Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. However, just months later, the same governor turned against President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Tinubu, and the APC at a PDP campaign rally in Bayelsa State, showcasing his ungrateful and duplicitous nature.”

“Senator Buba remains resolute in denying these baseless allegations and reaffirmed his commitment to serving his constituents and ensuring the security of the nation.

“He is known for positively impacting the well-being of his constituency by providing scholarships, facilitating skills acquisition, and empowering youth and women. 

“Additionally, he is recognized for his contributions to infrastructure development, poverty reduction, and the provision of social amenities and palliatives to mitigate the effects of petrol subsidy removal, among other commendable initiatives. 

“Regardless of the Governor’s sinister intentions, he cannot halt the winds of change gathering strength in Bauchi. His days of unbecoming and unethical behaviours are numbered. The momentum for change has already begun, and no amount of blackmail will deter or intimidate my boss,” the statement concluded.