Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has accused the Federal Government of employing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intimidate him and members of his administration due to his refusal to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor made these claims on Wednesday at the Bauchi Government House, where he received an ambassadorial award for safety from the Institute of Safety Professionals in Nigeria. He expressed concern that one of his commissioners is currently in detention by the EFCC.
“As a governor and the head of the opposition, my commissioner has been held without release by the EFCC. Even with my immunity as a governor, my name was shockingly mentioned in a motion in a court of law in Nigeria. Me, Bala Mohammed,” he stated.
“I don’t need to say anything further. I do not even need to take this to the public court. However, it is evident that politics in Nigeria has deteriorated.
“The APC-led federal government believes they can use the courts and governmental institutions, such as the EFCC, to persecute and prosecute Nigerians who are not part of their party.”
Governor Mohammed, who chairs the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, maintained that no level of harassment would compel him to join the APC.
He noted that he had remained silent for the sake of peace and security but warned that he would no longer remain quiet if the Federal Government continued its actions.
“If they do not cease, we will declare war. I assure you, we are not going to stay silent any longer. I refuse to allow anyone to criminalise me simply because I am not in their party, and I will not join their party,” he asserted.
The Bauchi governor further alleged that despite the Federal Government controlling 51 per cent of the country’s resources, it has failed to provide any significant assistance to the state.
“In my state, they have not constructed a single kilometre of road. They have not provided water. Even the security agencies—I am the one funding them to operate for us—and they have the audacity to speak,” he remarked.
He also criticised the Federal Government’s tax system, warning that it would lead to increased poverty among Nigerians if not revised.
Recently, the EFCC filed new criminal charges against Yakubu Adamu, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, and others, over alleged terrorism financing involving a total of 9.7 million US dollars.
