The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, on Tuesday responded to the threat by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to ignite crises in states under the control of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Mohammed, who is also the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, said, “Nobody can put fire in Bauchi. We have volumes of water.”
His statement was a direct response to Wike, who had warned PDP governors to steer clear of the crisis between him and the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.
Earlier, the PDP Governors’ Forum had called for the cancellation of the ward and local government congresses in Rivers State that handed the party’s structure to Wike instead of Fubara, the sitting governor.
Reacting to the position of the PDP governors, Wike, speaking in Port Harcourt during the state congress, had warned them not to interfere in Rivers PDP issues or he would “put fire in their states.”
He stated, “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of the 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.”
Speaking on Tuesday while addressing members of the PDP National Working Committee, who were on a visit to Bauchi, Mohammed dismissed Wike’s threat to create crises in Bauchi State.
Mohammed said, “Nobody can put fire in Bauchi. We have volumes of water. Even my friend who said that, he’s only saying it because he’s annoyed. We may have said something that irritated him, but it’s not personal. My friend is my friend, and leadership is leadership.”
Mohammed expressed excitement over the NWC members’ visit, which he described as unsolicited, saying it demonstrated the unity and leadership values of the PDP.
“We must put our interests aside and respect our diversity, especially for a party like the PDP that has a history and a pedigree. Most of the developments in this country were done by the PDP,” he added.
The governor commended the NWC members for their roles in ensuring stability in the party despite the challenges it faces. He expressed his belief that the PDP remained strong and capable of overcoming internal crises through effective leadership.
Speaking on behalf of the NWC, the National Legal Adviser of the party, Kamaludeen Adeyemi, extended the party’s goodwill and congratulated Mohammed on his achievements in Bauchi. “We are here to identify with you and to salute your courage as the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum. Whatever steps are taken by the governors’ forum, we, as your representatives in the NWC, will always be glad to implement,” Adeyemi said.
Meanwhile, a pressure group within the Osun State chapter of the PDP, on Tuesday, challenged PDP governors to take action against Wike over his utterances.
The group, known as Professionals in PDP, threw the challenge in a statement signed by its President, Sam Segun-Progress.
“The recent display of arrogance and uninformed outburst of the Minister of the FCT, Nyesome Wike, is not only shameless but demeaning and unbecoming of a supposed leader.
“Is Wike above the law or above the party? What makes him special is that he will be challenging the party leadership with no responses and daring us to act?
“We must ask the national executives what makes Wike special. Why can’t they caution him if he is too big to be disciplined? We ask our governors, why are they afraid of Wike? Why are they quiet over his affronts?”
The group challenged the National working Committee and governors elected on the platform of the party to summon courage and act before the table would turn against them.
It stated: “If the National Working Committee and governors are incompetent and afraid of Wike, some of us don’t see him as special than other party members and we will not hesitate to mobilise to the national secretary to reset the NWC.
“It is time to stop elements who will not allow us perform our role as credible opposition to make the current lacklustre administration wake up to its responsibilities.”
