A noxious wind is blowing in Bauchi State. A political musical chairs appears on the offing against the democratic choice made by the citizens and residents of the Pearl of Tourism. This comes against developments geared at cleansing the State of corrupt excesses.
Credible information available to 247ureports.com indicates the immediate past governor of Bauchi State, Barrister Mohammed Abubakar along with a group of disgruntled politicians have launched a plot to dislodge the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed from the seat of Governor to avert an impending prosecution by the Bauchi State Government against stolen Bauchi State properties found in “their” possession.
As a caveat, it is recalled that on the 12th day of July, 2019, shortly following his victory at the polls, Governor Bala Mohammed inaugurated the Bauchi State Government’s Assets and Funds Recovery Committee. And, on March 10, 2020, the committee headed by Brig. Gen. M. K. Yake completed its assigned task – “recover all stolen funds and assets belonging to the good people of Bauchi State”. Prior to completion, he committee issued a press release on October 2019 detailing an update of their findings to the media [see below].
The findings were an eye opener to the people of Bauchi State on how the State was looted by the former Governor and his cabal.
Against the backdrop, the culprits indicted by the contents of the committee’s report were further jolted by the public pledge by Governor Bala Mohammed to prosecute the culprits indicted by the Committee’s report. Of which, the former Governor, Barrister Mohammed Abubakar was heavily indicted by the report for stealing and contract fraud valued in the high billions of Naira.
According to a source from the Bauchi State House of Assembly who summarized the tension, said, “Mohammed Abubakar is afraid and wants to remove Bala before he returns from Covid19 isolation”.
The Bauchi lawmaker revealed to 247ureports.com of a recent meeting convened by the former Governor in Gombe State with “a good” number of Bauchi lawmakers. The meeting discussed the threat of impending prosecution by the Bauchi Government – as Bala Mohammed had pledged publicly. He revealed to the lawmaker how some of the corrupt cases indicted the lawmakers individually. Particularly, the former Governor cited the N8.5billion anchor loan received from the federal government on behalf of the rural farmers in the State.
The loan was meant to be distributed to small scale farmers in the rural area to help their food production and throughput. The money was received in a UBA account belonging to the State Government. The former governor, instead of distributing the loan as stipulated, proceeded to share the money to the lawmakers at N15m each. The former Governor pocketed the remainder. In the words of the lawmaker, “He was telling the lawmakers to act – that their hands were soiled too”.
FICTITIOUS CONTRACT FOR THE SUPPLY OF CHEMICALS FOR A PURPORTED FUMIGATION – The Committee uncovered a N418,425,000.00 fictitious contract awarded at the eve of the 2019 election on 31st December, 2018 by the Bauchi State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, for the supply of Agro-Allied Chemicals for fumigation in primary schools in the 20 Local Government Areas of the State. The supply of this chemicals was never done, but the contractor, one Wuro Soyo Investment Nigeria Limited has been fully paid. It is instructive to know that, chemicals of this amount when diluted, can spray a farmland equal to the entire land area of Bauchi State, which is 49,119 km2.
The former Governor tasked the lawmakers to act first by removing the current Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abubakar Y. Suleiman representing Ningi Central – who is considered to be loyal to the Governor. It is recalled Alhaji Abubakar Y. Suleiman mounted the seated in June 2019 following an election bitterly contested by the lawmakers loyal to the former governor.
The removal of the current speaker of the Bauchi State Assembly will give way to the installation of a Speaker considered loyal to the former governor – preferably Honorable Kawuwa Shehu Damina. The new speaker is expected to begin the impeachment of Governor Bala Mohammed.
Our source reveals that the national ruling party, the All Progressive Congress [APC] is aware of the plot – and are fully in support of the former governor to return the State to APC. “Oshiomole has assured Abubakar of support”. The lawmakers are fully aware of Oshiomole’s stance.
The desperation level is dangerously concerning. “Abubakar is willing to do anything to remove Bala. He sees Bala’s current situation as the best time to strike”.
The lawmaker indicated that many lawmakers within the Bauchi State legislative chamber are singularly interested in “filling” their pockets. “They are not loyal to any one person”. Aside from the influence by the former governor on the lawmakers, our source indicates that Bala Mohammed had not been as willing to share monies to the lawmakers – in the manner they would want. They claim that the current speaker is weak in pressuring the Governor into disbursing funds to the lawmakers. “It is simple. They want money”.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Bauchi State continues to stay in isolation receiving treatment for the Coronavirus – although he is yet to display any symptoms associated with the illness. He continues to govern the state from isolation. Today, he reversed the curfew imposed on the state while still maintaining shut borders. So far, Bauchi has three confirmed cases of Coronavirus.
While in isolation, in the presence of impending danger, Governor Bala Mohammed has organized and coordinated for the hospitalization of coronavirus patients in Bauchi.
Source: 247ureports.com