Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has urged Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, to confront his political challenges instead of linking him to the crises in the state.
Wike made the statement on Thursday during a “thank you” visit to Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, reacting to claims by Mohammed that he was responsible for the instability in Bauchi.
Earlier in the day, Mohammed accused Wike of fueling unrest in Bauchi, recalling an alleged past threat by the minister to “set Bauchi on fire.” He also claimed that Wike was using federal agencies and political structures to weaken his administration and questioned his spending pattern as FCT minister. Mohammed further alleged that Wike had become a source of division within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In response, Wike dismissed the allegations, advising the Bauchi governor to stop shifting blame and instead address his issues head-on. He challenged Mohammed to act if he truly had the capacity to resolve the problems confronting him.
Wike also recalled a previous encounter in which Mohammed allegedly attempted to impose a party leader in Rivers State, an action he said he strongly opposed. According to Wike, he warned Mohammed of the consequences, adding that the governor now lacked a viable party structure to produce a successor.
The FCT minister advised Mohammed to step aside if he lacked the strength to manage the political situation in his state, stressing that his dealings with the governor were limited strictly to party leadership matters and not Bauchi State affairs.
Wike further challenged Mohammed to address allegations involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), claiming that associates of the governor were under investigation for alleged terrorism financing.
On accusations concerning land sales in Abuja, Wike noted that Mohammed had previously served as FCT minister between 2010 and 2015, questioning his record during that period. He alleged that Mohammed sold land indiscriminately and awarded contracts that were left uncompleted, insisting that his own administration was now completing those projects.
Wike maintained that his performance as FCT minister had been widely praised by Nigerians and assured that he would continue delivering results.
