THIS DAWN — Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has launched a scathing attack on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, accusing him of being behind the terrorism financing charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Bauchi’s Commissioner of Finance.
Bala’s remarks, delivered in a fiery statement, escalate tensions between the two political heavyweights and highlight growing divisions within the ruling elite.
Bala’s Allegations
Governor Bala alleged that Wike is manipulating federal institutions to destabilize his administration.
He claimed that Wike had previously threatened to “put fire” in Bauchi State and is now using his influence to orchestrate charges against his commissioner.
“Wike is behind the EFCC terrorism financing charge against my commissioner of finance, and he previously said he was going to put fire in my state.
“He’s controlling all these institutions, bribing people, selling lands, and using it to carry out his operations,” Bala declared.
The governor went further, labeling Wike a “terrorist” and accusing him of colluding with Bauchi’s former accountant general, whom Bala described as corrupt.
According to Bala, the former official is now working with Wike to serve as a witness in the EFCC case.
Attack on Wike’s Political Role
During an interview on Channels TV’s “Sunrises daily”, Bala also criticized Wike’s broader political influence.
He described him as a destabilizing force within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a burden on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“Wike is out to destroy me. He’s a big drag on President Tinubu’s administration.
“He’s an undertaker in the PDP, and I fought him. I was even at the PDP secretariat when he came to take over.
“He can’t be in two places at the same time,” Bala said.
These remarks underscore Bala’s view of Wike as both a political adversary and a disruptive figure nationally.
While Wike has not yet formally responded to Bala’s latest accusations, the FCT Minister has been engaged in a series of political battles across the country.
In Rivers State, he continues to assert influence despite leaving office as governor in 2023.
His critics accuse him of overreaching and using federal power to settle political scores, while supporters argue he remains a formidable strategist and defender of his allies.
Implications
The accusations by Bala Mohammed add a new dimension to Nigeria’s political tensions, intertwining state-level disputes with national governance.
If substantiated, claims of institutional manipulation could raise serious questions about the independence of anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC.
For President Tinubu, the feud between two prominent figures—one a sitting governor and the other a federal minister—poses challenges to party unity and governance stability.
Within the PDP, Bala’s remarks also highlight lingering divisions and rivalries that continue to shape the opposition’s internal struggles.
Governor Mohammed’s explosive allegations against Wike mark a sharp escalation in Nigeria’s political discourse.
By accusing the FCT Minister of terrorism, manipulation, and corruption, Bala has intensified scrutiny of Wike’s role in national politics.
In the meantime, the EFCC case against Bauchi’s Commissioner of Finance is unfolding.
The confrontation between the two leaders is likely to reverberate across Nigeria’s political landscape, testing both institutional credibility and party cohesion.
Mohammed Slams Tinubu
In a related development, Governor Mohammed has sharply criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over the ongoing tax reforms.
He also condemned the arraignment of his Commissioner of Finance by the EFCC on alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing charges.
Bala said his own name was mentioned in the suit despite his constitutional immunity, describing the move as persecution.
He accused the federal government of failing to deliver basic infrastructure in Bauchi—such as roads and water—while leaving the state to fund its own security agencies.
Bala condemned the new tax system as exploitative, claiming it would impoverish ordinary Nigerians and weaken state governments.
The governor alleged that the APC-led government is using the courts and EFCC to target opposition figures.
He warned that if such actions continue, “we are going to declare war.”
He vowed never to join the APC, insisting he will not allow anyone to criminalize him for refusing to defect.
