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  • Bauchi Governor Dismisses Six Traditional Rulers for Political Involvement and Misconduct

    Bauchi Governor Dismisses Six Traditional Rulers for Political Involvement and Misconduct

    Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has taken decisive action against at least six traditional rulers in the state due to their political affiliation and other misconducts. The dismissals were approved by the Local Government Service Commission and affected monarchs from the Bauchi and Katagum Emirate Councils.

    In a statement issued to the media in Bauchi on Friday, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Service Commission, Nasiru Ibrahim, on behalf of the Chairman of the Commission, announced the reasons for their removal. The dismissed traditional rulers were found to be actively engaged in partisan politics, which is against the principles of their positions. Additionally, they were involved in misconduct, illegal encroachment into forest reserves and unauthorized tree felling, misappropriation of public funds, and acts of insubordination, all of which are contrary to the public service rules.

    The traditional rulers affected by the dismissal include Alhaji Aminu Muhammad Malami, District Head of Udubo; Alhaji Bashir Kabir Umar, District Head of Azare; Umar Omar, Village Head of Gadiya; and Umar Bani, Village Head of Tarmasawa, all from the Katagum Emirate Council. In addition, those dismissed from the Bauchi Emirate Council are Bello Suleman, Village Head of Beni, and Alhaji Yusuf Aliyu Badara, Village Head of Badara.

    The government has instructed the affected traditional rulers to hand over their duties to their respective secretaries, while the emirate councils are tasked with appointing overseeing officers until substantive officers are appointed by the commission.

    This move demonstrates the government’s commitment to upholding the non-partisan nature of traditional institutions and maintaining the integrity of public service in Bauchi State.

  • Gov Mohammed lauds Gov Emmanuel for rural transformation

    Gov Mohammed lauds Gov Emmanuel for rural transformation

    By Odo Ogenyi, Uyo

    Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has commended his Akwa Ibom counterpart, Mr Udom Emmanuel for his resolve to take governance to the rural communities.

    Mohammed who made this known yesterday when he inaugurated the 17.95Km Anua-Mbak-Ishiet road with spurs in Uruan Local Council and a 1.65Km outfall drain in Uyo said the projects have brought a new lease of life to rural dwellers, describing him as one of the best Nigerian leaders PDP has ever produced.

    The Bauchi Governor posited that with the hallmark of excellence that Emmanuel has used his experience and pedigree to bring to bear in governance through inventions and innovations particularly in urban renewal and rural development what he is leaving behind for the state would be more than just a footprint.

    “I can see that the people of this community are positively touched by your midas touch. Because you have delivered what they craved for so many years.

    “With your age, pedigree and experience, and what you have testified with these infrastructural development by transforming the rural Akwa Ibom to centre of excellence, you have written your name in gold.” He said.

    Emmanuel had in a remark affirmed that his concentration on rural communities was to work the talk on his second term Completion Agenda and in appreciation of the massive support of rural dwellers towards the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

    “These days I’ve been taking my colleagues to join me for commissioning of projects in the rural areas because these are the people that voted for us. These are the people that make PDP thick by showing faith in the party.

    “We might not be able to go into houses one after the other but if we do a life touching project like the Anua-Mbak-Ishiet road that traverses two local government areas we know we are touching lives of the rural dwellers.” He stated.

    On his part, the Governor-Elect Pastor Umo Eno, commended the impactfulness of Governor Emmanuel’s development projects and acknowledged the economic viability of Anua-Mbak-Ishiet road, describing it as the commercial route of the state.

    Eno pledged to do more on the project by providing embankments at the river shore, a jetty, cold rooms and fish processing facilities to enhance the seafood businesses of the Etoi, Ishiet, Mbak and Anua people.

    Reviewing the project, Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga, said the 17.95km Anua-Mbak-Ishiet road has 13.1km alignment which is 10.3m wide with side drains.

    He explained that specifications of the road meets the standards of road construction anywhere in the world as it has150mm laterite sub-base, 150mm crush stone base and 50mm asphalt wearing course.

    He added that phase I of the project links several communities to Ring Road III and it has opened up the area for commercial activities especially transportation of sea foods to the urban areas and outside the state.

  • 2023: Those Trying To Rig Election With Federal Might Will Fail – Gov Bala

    2023: Those Trying To Rig Election With Federal Might Will Fail – Gov Bala

    Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has alleged a plot to rig him out of office in the 2023 governorship election in the state.

    He said those trying to do so using federal might will not succeed because President Muhammadu Buhari won’t give in to such.

    The governor made the remark on Sunday when he received the members of the Bauchi State Christian Community who paid him Christmas homage at the Government House in Bauchi.

    READ ALSO: Ortom Backs BVAS, Says 2023 Is Nigeria’s Only Opportunity

    “There are people who buy votes, and there are those planning to rig the election using federal might but I know President Buhari is just, and he has already assured us that he would allow the people to elect whom they want,” the governor said.

    “Let us not mind all this doubting Thomas’s. We must be able to come together, to stick together. Our own responsibility is Bauchi, even though we believe in the federation. When Bauchi works, everywhere will work. Let us work together. Let us move together in unity,” Mohammed charged the Christian community.

    The Christian community was led on the visit by the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Bauchi, Abraham Damina.

    Mohammed, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is seeking to return to office for another term of four years.

  • Fifth columnists working against my reelection bid – Bala tells G-5 Govs

    Fifth columnists working against my reelection bid – Bala tells G-5 Govs

    Bauchi state Governor, Bala Mohammed, has opened up to G-5 Governors comprising Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Samuel Ortom (Benue); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) on fears for his second term bid.

    It was reported that the G-5 Governors arrived in Bauchi, the state capital around 12:30 pm to woo Mohammed to their camp.

    The G-5 is trying to capitalise on the perceived rift between Mohammed and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar.

    Mohammed had complained to the national chairman of the party Senator Iyorchia Ayu, that Atiku sidelined him by refusing to see him after the presidential primary after he visited other aspirants.

    He added that Atiku is allegedly working against his re-election bid in the State.

    The Governor, who is the vice chairman of the Atiku Campaign Council in the Northeast, also alleged that Atiku picked campaign coordinators from his State without consultation with him.

    In his letter to Ayu, the Bauchi Governor opened up on how he was hurt by Atiku and demanded an apology.

    In his view, Atiku was bent on “punishing him for contesting the presidential primary and not stepping down for him”.

    Mohammed’s letter of November 3 to the national chairman forced Ayu to lead a delegation to Bauchi last Saturday to appease him.

    Speaking before a closed-door meeting with the G5 Governors, Mohammed said he knows he can confide in them.

    However, the Governor did not state whether he has joined the Wike’s camp or not

    According to him: “I share a lot in common with the G-5 Governors. I’m supposed to be with the G-5 but they excommunicated me.

    “They know I’ve challenges in Bauchi, the challenges of the party, challenges of treachery and mischief. When you know you have people like them, you feel secure

    “I’m happy they are here. I have the opportunity of confiding in these people some of my worries, my fears, and my apprehension.

    “You are aware that it’s no longer a secret that I wrote a letter to the national chairman about what I’ve found out that’s working against me and I wrote it with all honesty and sincerity and that’s why the party invited me to discuss with Atiku our leader.”

    Addressing newsmen shortly after their closed-door meeting Wike said they were in the state on a solidarity visit to Mohammed.

    He however did not reveal the outcome of the meeting other than they were on a solidarity visit adding that the G-5 is still open to reconciliation.

    On the absence of Oyo Governor, Wike said Makinde is out of the country.

  • Bala Mohammed Gets Bauchi PDP Guber Ticket

    Bala Mohammed Gets Bauchi PDP Guber Ticket

    Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate for the 2023 governorship election.

    Mohammed had been in the race for the PDP presidential ticket which he lost to Atiku Abubakar.

    He emerged the governorship candidate at a fresh primary conducted in the state following the withdrawal of former candidate, Ibrahim Kashim.

    Mohammed was the sole candidate for the election as delegates from 20 local government areas cast their ballot.

    Reacting to his victory, Mohammed said he has put the presidential primary behind him and is ready to work for the success of the party from top to bottom.

  • Tinubu Would be Handed the Presidential Ticket if he was a PDP Member – Bala Mohammed

    Tinubu Would be Handed the Presidential Ticket if he was a PDP Member – Bala Mohammed

    Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi, says if Bola Tinubu, presidential hopeful of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he would be handed the presidential ticket in 2023.

    Mohammed said this on Sunday when he appeared on ThisDay Live, a programme on Arise TV.

    Mohammed was one of the invitees that attended the iftar hosted by Aisha, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, for presidential hopefuls on Saturday.

    Speaking on the programme, Mohammed said he met Tinubu among other eminent Nigerians, adding that the former Lagos governor would be given the presidential ticket because of his contributions if he was in the PDP.

    Supporters of Tinubu have been calling on the APC to hand him the presidential ticket because he “worked hard” in getting Buhari into office.

    According to the governor, he attended the iftar to prove that he is a product of consensus.

    “I knew it was an opportunity to meet other eminent Nigerians who are stepping out to present themselves,” he said.

    “And I was lucky I met Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, we discussed, he was calling me consensus and I told him that: ‘if you were in PDP we would have just given you the ticket because we knew that without you Buhari wouldn’t have been a president’ and so in PDP we recognise contributions.

    “We have some people in Nigeria that we must recognise and it was definitely a good outing for me yesterday. The First Lady is a unifier. She has shown that she is a mother of the nation and all the presidential aspirants not only in PDP, APC but all the other parties were there. It was an opportunity to show that I’m really a product of consensus or closing rank irrespective of party differences.”

    Last Friday, Saraki and Mohammed were announced as “northern consensus candidates” of the PDP following a report released by Ango Abdullahi, elder statesman.

    But Tambuwal and other stakeholders rejected the report, saying it was not the agreement reached at a previous meeting of PDP presidential hopefuls.

  • 2023: Tambuwal, Bala, Saraki, Opts For Consensus

    2023: Tambuwal, Bala, Saraki, Opts For Consensus

    By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto

    … To Share Thoughts With Atiku Soon

    Gov. Bala Muhammad of Bauchi state on Sunday hosted his Sokoto state counterpart, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki to a consensus building initiative among aspirants of Northern extraction for the position of President under the aegis of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    This was contained in a release signed and issued to newsmen by the Special Adviser on media and Publicity to the governor Muhammad Bello.

    The trio, all seeking the nomination of the PDP to run for the seat of Nigeria’s President, met for about two and half an hours in Government House, Bauchi.

    At the close of the meeting they posited that it is their considered resolution that against the backdrop of the failure of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to provide good governance, all those seeking to be President under the PDP should unite and rally round one candidate.

    The triumvirate from the three geopolitical zones in the Northern part of the country- North-Central, North-East and North-West also agreed that at a later date they will visit former President Atiku Abubakar, himself another presidential aspirant from the North, to brief him on the outcome of their brainstorm.

    Saraki who briefed journalists after the meeting said: “we appreciate that all of us have shown ambition but only one person could lead.”

    “For this reason, we decided that we should all embrace consensus going forward in order to make things easier for our party’s stability,” Saraki stated.

    He pointed out that their convergence, taking cognizance of the sorry state of the country and its people, which the APC is not ready to alleviate, are convinced that the PDP must lead the way in the March to rescue the country in 2023.

    He asserted that although all of them seeking the numero uno position are all qualified to contest, “we are ready to sacrifice our ambitions.”

    “We have agreed to put our heads together and see how best to provide leadership and direction for this country, its unity, stability and progress.

    “These are more important than our individual ambitions, thus the need for us to work together,” he emphasized.

    “Today is momentous. The PDP is ready because what is important is Nigeria. Whatever we do, Nigeria should come first,” the former Senate President further added.

    While Governor Tambuwal was accompanied by the former Deputy Governor of Zamfara state, Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Gusau and a Chieftain of the PDP in Sokoto state, Engr Bello Suleiman, Saraki came along with the former national Chairman of the PDP,
    Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje and others.

    The Deputy Governor of Bauchi state, Engr Baba Tela was also present at the press briefing.

  • NCPC rewards Bala Mohammed as best pilgrimage sponsor

    NCPC rewards Bala Mohammed as best pilgrimage sponsor

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    The Nigerian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, has awarded Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed as the best Pilgrimage sponsor in the Northeast region of the country.

    Executive Secretary of the NCPC, Rev. Yakubu Pam gave Gov. Muhammed the award for sponsoring the largest Christian Pilgrims contingent to the Kingdom of Jordan from the Northeast.

    Presenting the award to the Governor at the Bauchi State Government House, Friday, December 24, 2021, Rev Pam noted the tremendous efforts made by the Governor in the sponsorship of pilgrims of both faiths to perform their sacred religions obligations without discrimination.

    Rev Pam said, “His Excellency has a long cordial relationship with the Commission dating back to the time he served the country as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.”

    “Today we are here to celebrate you for your unrelenting support during the last Pilgrimage exercise where you stood out amongst your peers. Your balanced approach to both faiths and ethnicities is noted.”

    “My mission to Bauchi State is to appreciate and encourage the Executive Governor and to award you as the best Governor for sponsoring the largest number of Pilgrims in the Northeast.”

    Rev. Pam further informed the Governor that the Commission intends to airlift 10,000 Pilgrims for the 2022 General Pilgrimage exercise to Israel, Greece, Rome and Jordan in February.

    “We are mobilizing 10,000 Christian Pilgrims for this year’s pilgrimage to Israel, Greece, Rome and Jordan by February 2022.”

    While soliciting the support the Governor in the sponsorship of Bauchi State Pilgrims to achieve this target, Rev. Pam commended the him for his impact in areas of infrastructures, youth and women development and empowerment.
    , to which he adduced could be visibly seen from within and outside Bauchi State urging the Governor to “keep being a good Leader”.

    Rev. Pam who is also known as the Apostle of Peace noted that the governor is a man who does not forget the grassroots and thanked him for his contributions in the just concluded 2020 pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Jordan.

    Responding, Governor Bala Mohammed described Rev. Pam as a man of the People for his service to Nigerians.

    “I take Pilgrimage seriously and this spurs me to do more.

    “My Administration has Built a befitting Pilgrims Transit Camp to be used by both Christians and Muslims.

    “I urge the Commission to consider the State as one of the places to be used for transporting pilgrims to the Holy Land.”

    The governor enjoined people from Jos and Gombe to take off from Bauchi as he urged the people be accommodating and patient so that there will be peace and harmony in the State.

  • ‘You Will Join Us Very Soon,’ Zulum Woos Bauchi Governor To APC

    ‘You Will Join Us Very Soon,’ Zulum Woos Bauchi Governor To APC

    Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, will join the All Progressives Congress (APC) soon, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has stated.

    Governor Zulum said this on Thursday during the foundation laying ceremony for the construction of the N6.3 billion-worth new Bauchi State Government House.

    “Let me once again express my appreciation to my colleague the governor of Bauchi State and my other colleagues, that’s Governors of North-East sub-region for giving me the support to take the forum to a greater height and indeed the next level.

    “The only quarrel that I am having with my colleague the Governor of Bauchi State is his refusal to come into APC. In sha Allah, very soon he will join us; he will join the progressive In sha Allah. I am here to support him,” Zulum said.

    Zulum who is also the Chairman of North East Governors’ Forum spoke about the development of the North-East region noting that the forum has made a tremendous effort to reposition the region a few months after its establishment and it is determined to bring change.

    “One of the resolutions considered during the North-East Governors forum meeting is the establishment of north-east airline and it will go a long way in ameliorating the transportation problem in the region,” Zulum added.

    He added that the forum is considering the establishment of the north-east bank that will provide enabling finances to SMEs especially for young men, women, and the vulnerable to enable them to have a sustainable means of livelihood.

  • I will never Apologise For Opposing Fulani Profiling – Bala Mohammed

    I will never Apologise For Opposing Fulani Profiling – Bala Mohammed

    Bauchi commissioner alleges Ortom using herders to cover up failure
    Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has said that he will never apologise for opposing profiling of patriotic Fulani herders as killers and kidnappers.

    Mohammed had last week said that “herders who carry AK-47 around do so to defend themselves against cattle rustlers that are rendering them bankrupt.” The position generated mixed reactions across the country.

    Speaking yesterday during the official launch of the 2020/2021 annual livestock vaccination campaign at Galambi Cattle Ranch in Bauchi, Mohammed said no tribe or group was free from criminality, so labelling a particular tribe was unfair and would breed disunity in the country.

    Reacting to his Benue counterpart, Samuel Ortom, who asked him to apologise for defending carrying of weapons by herders, he said the Fulani, over the years, had been making so much sacrifice in their pastoral life, adding that the supply of beef would not have been possible without herders’ contribution.

    His words: “We kicked against the profiling of the Fulani as killers and kidnappers. We have no apology for what we have done because what we have done is to say the truth, that there is no tribe or group that is free from criminality. We are not saying that to spite anybody or spark unnecessary controversy, we have made our point.

    “Nigerians have discussed it and I am happy to say that, from all indications, majority of sensible Nigerians have appreciated what we have said and that is the point. I need not mention anything of this matter for fear that controversy will be escalated, I will listen to voices of reason and keep quiet about it.”

    He called on the Fulani to make their communities free of criminality.

    “They must make sure that they fish out the bad eggs from among themselves because criminality is criminality. In as much as we will protect them from being profiled badly, they should make efforts to show that majority of them are good citizens, contributing positively to the growth and development of Nigeria,” he said.

    ALSO, Bauchi Commissioner for Environment and Housing, Hamisu Shira, has said that Governor Ortom was covering up his non-performance with excuse herdsmen’s activities. He urged Ortom to prioritise good governance in Benue like his Bauchi counterpart.

    “This is a governor that could not afford to pay salaries while the workers resorted to demonstrations,” Shira said.At a press conference yesterday, the commissioner lamented that Ortom was distracting Mohammed with his comment.