FORMER SPEAKER, YAKUBU DOGARA, EXPOSES GOVERNOR BALA MOHAMMED’S “INGRATITUDE AND TREACHERY”
Globaltimes Reporter
A recent statement by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara has shed light on the deteriorating relationship between Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and His Excellency, Nyeson Wike, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Dogara’s statement, which was made public on his Facebook wall, reveals a shocking tale of ingratitude and treachery on the part of Governor Mohammed. According to Dogara, Governor Mohammed’s recent outbursts against Wike are a classic case of “biting the hand that fed him.”
Dogara recounted how, in 2018, Wike came to the aid of Governor Mohammed during the PDP gubernatorial primaries in Bauchi State. At the time, Mohammed was facing a tough challenge from Senator Abdul Ningi, and it seemed unlikely that he would emerge victorious.
Dogara revealed that he had reached out to Wike for assistance, and the then-Governor of Rivers State had responded promptly. Wike not only provided financial support but also used his influence to ensure that Mohammed received the necessary backing to win the primaries.
As Dogara narrated, “I had called Wike to plead with him to help us in Bauchi without necessarily disclosing to him that it was Bala Mohammed that we wanted delivered. His response to me was, ‘Are you sure you are in control of the process 100 percent?’ I said, ‘I wasn’t too sure,’ and he said to me, ‘Leave it to me, I will help you sort it out.'”
Dogara further stated that Wike had gone out of his way to ensure Mohammed’s success, even providing a private jet to transport the delegation. As Dogara noted, “To do it, Wike first of all made his bosom friend and close ally, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, the Chairman of the Panel for the Primaries, and said I should discuss whatever I wanted with Chief Dan.”
Dogara’s statement also highlighted how Wike had continued to support Mohammed even after he became governor. However, despite Wike’s kindness and generosity, Mohammed has now turned against him, labelling him a “transactional politician.”
Dogara expressed his disappointment and sadness at Mohammed’s ingratitude, stating, “What is baffling is that the so-called transactional Wike did not demand anything in return nor place any condition for all that he did.” He also noted that Mohammed’s actions were a classic case of “ingratitude and treachery.”
Dogara quoted Wike’s previous praise for Mohammed, saying, “Someone who is courageous, focused, and determined, a person qualified and competent to help salvage Nigeria” – a statement that Mohammed had made about Wike when he was still benefiting from his support.
However, Dogara also revealed that Wike had confronted Mohammed about his past actions, including his refusal to allocate land to Wike when he was Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. As Dogara narrated, “He said Bala Mohammed allocated plots of land to all Ministers except him… He also recalled how he humiliated him when he went to see him in his office as a colleague Minister just to get an approval to increase the number of floors on a building he had in Abuja, not to beg for a plot which he refused to allocate to him.”
Dogara concluded his statement by saying, “Between Wike and Bala, Bala should be told in unequivocal terms that it is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not. It is obvious that Bala is not near anything that he is projecting to the public… For Bala, power is a poison and anyone who questions how he wields it, for that reason, is an eternal heretic that must be crushed at all cost.”
The former Speaker’s statement has sparked widespread reaction, with many calling for Governor Mohammed to apologize to Wike for his ungrateful behavior. The development has also raised questions about the integrity and character of Governor Mohammed, who is increasingly being seen as a politician who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
