I told aggrieved govs my worries – Bala Mohammed

Bala Mohammed, the governor of Bauchi State, has stated that he has close ties to the irate Peoples Democratic Party governors.Information Guide Nigeria

Mohammed stated as much on Wednesday, when the disgruntled governors paid him a solidarity visit in Bauchi. During the meeting, he conveyed his anxieties and concerns with the governors.

The governor hosted his colleagues from the states of Rivers, Abia, Benue, and Enugu: Nyesom Wike, Okezie Ikpeazu, Samuel Ortom, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, was reportedly out of the country.

The governors arrived at Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi in four chartered aircrafts – 5N-BZS, 5N-RSG, 5N-AOO, and 5N-IZY – and were immediately driven to the Presidential Lodge, commonly known as Ramat House.

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During their encounter, Mohammed spoke candidly about the party’s state chapter as well as the personal concerns he had with the PDP candidate.

The PUNCH has received reliable information that the governors will convene in Enugu on Saturday to witness the inauguration of the state PDP campaign council.

Mohammed is anticipated to attend the conference in Enugu, when he would join the group of unhappy governors formally.

A senior assistant to Governor Ortom disclosed to our reporter that the main goal of the five governors’ visit was to recruit Mohammed into their group.

Before entering their meeting, the governors identified themselves to the media as the pillars of the party and added that they were open to reconciliation.

Mohammed, who was appreciative of the governors’ visit, replied that he was with them, but they had “excommunicated” him.

He said, “I am supposed to be with them but they excommunicated me for reasons best known to them but I am highly connected to each and every one of them. There is hardly a day I don’t call or speak to one of them because in politics, you go with the people you share things in common with.

“This presidency (Presidential primaries) that we ran when my brother was defeated, who in turn defeated me, has brought us close and of course at the governors forum, we are very close. One thing I appreciate about them is that they look at your challenges. They are not going back for a second term but they are always worried about others.

“Their own particular ideas, principles may be slightly different from mine, but certainly, I feel their pains as much as they feel my own pains. We share so much in common.”

Mohammed said: “They know I have challenges in Bauchi, the challenges of anti-party, the challenges of undercutting, treachery and mischief.  But of course, politics is about all these. And when you know that you have people of this stature and calibre behind you, you feel fulfilled.

“I’m happy they are here and I’ll have the opportunity of confiding in people that I believe I can confide in, some of my worries, fears, apprehensions and that of my state.

“So, I’m happy that you came because some of those things may not be said on the telephone, but to say that as PDP members from the same family, I always see you as fellow comrades in this journey of life. I thank you most sincerely for taking the trouble to come.”

Mohammed confessed in a brief conversation with journalists that he had written to the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyiorcha Ayu, to inform him of resistance to his bid for a second term within the party.

He stated that the letter was written by the PDP family in Bauchi state to convey their discontent with the manner he and the state were being governed.

Mohammed stated that in response to the letter, the national headquarters of the PDP instructed him to meet with the party’s presidential candidate in order to reach an amicable conclusion.

The governor would not divulge whether he reconciled with Atiku, but he did say that they had “long” discussions.

Mohammed stated, “It is no longer news that I wrote a letter to the party on my position in Bauchi; what I have found out to be working against me as a leader and as a first-term governor going for my second term.

“I wrote it with all honesty and sincerity and with a deep sense of humility and that was why the party invited me to go and discuss with the flag bearer of the PDP and leader, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and we discussed    extensively and I have gotten some explanations.

“The letter I wrote was not only written by me, it was written by the PDP family in Bauchi and the government of Bauchi and that was why I was there and we discussed extensively.”

Asked if he had decided to team up with the Wike camp, the ex-FCT minister replied, “As for the G-5 Governors, I always joke with them that I am a G-1, but I am inexorably connected with them. We have always been together and you know it: governor Wike, governor Ortom, governor Ugwuanyi, and governor Ikpeazu, have been here several times and I have been with them several times.

“I think these are some of the takeaways I have as a governor, having friends for life. So, I am everywhere, but of course, it doesn’t mean that I am nowhere.”JAMB Result

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