The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has replied to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, who threatened to ‘put fire’ in some states over his grouse with Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Wike had condemned the position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, recognising Fubara as the party’s leader in Rivers.
Wike had on August 31st said: “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say they will take over the structure and give it back to somebody. I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states.
“When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace – anything you see you take.”
Wike pointed at Bauchi governor, Bala Mohammed, promising sleepless nights to governors who leave their states to challenge him in Rivers State.
“Because I heard they got some money from a signature bonus and so their heads are getting big that you will put your hand in my own state. Prepare because I have the capacity to also do the same thing in your own state,” he said.
“Whether you are from Bauchi I don’t give a damn, whichever state you are from, as far as I know that you are trying to put yourself in Rivers State, your hand will get burnt and you will never sleep in your state.”
Meanwhile, Mohammed while reacting to him on Tuesday in Bauchi when he received some National Working Committee of PDP, said that members of the party must close ranks and save the party from collapsing, adding that the party is responsible for “most of the development in the country.”
“Whenever we quarrel, it is not personal, nobody should misunderstand us, we are together, this is not a splinter group,” Mohammed said.
“You can see that we are together (in Bauchi), nobody can put fire in Bauchi. Bauchi has a volume of water. Even my friend that is saying that is just saying that because he is annoyed. May be I have said something that annoyed him but it is not personal.
“My friend is my friend, my job is my job and leadership is leadership.”
While speaking, the National Leader Advisor of PDP, Kamaldeen Ajibade Adeyemi (SAN) said that whatever step the Party’s governor takes, the NWC is with them.
“We feel it is imperative for us to identify with you and to tell you that whatever step taken by the governors forum, we as your representative as National Working Committee will always be glad to implement,” he said.