The Bauchi State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y. Suleiman, has condemned what he described as a “verbose, baseless, and self-serving diatribe” issued by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, against the State governor, Bala Mohammed.
In a statement on Thursday, Hon. Suleiman said Dogara’s allegations against the Bauchi State governor were nothing more than an attempt to tarnish the reputation of a leader committed to the progress of the State.
Suleiman described Governor Bala Mohammed as a statesman whose leadership transcends personal interest and political manoeuvring.
According to him, the governor’s record of service, grassroots appeal, and commitment to governance earned him the people’s mandate, not backroom deals or personal favours. He dismissed Dogara’s claims of betrayal, calling them a distortion of political realities.
Addressing Dogara’s allegation that Governor Mohammed lacked financial capacity to run his 2018 governorship campaign, Suleiman stated that the governor’s success was built on collective support from the people.
“Unlike politicians who rely solely on personal wealth, Governor Bala Mohammed’s leadership thrives on inclusivity and transparency. His campaign was powered by trust, not the whims of a single individual,” he said.
The Bauchi Speaker also refuted Dogara’s accusation that Governor Mohammed failed to support other party candidates. He emphasised that the governor had consistently worked towards party unity and collective success. “It is dishonest to suggest otherwise,” Suleiman added, noting that the governor remained a pillar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) both in Bauchi State and beyond.
On alleged grievances between Governor Mohammed and former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, Suleiman dismissed the claims as distractions. He argued that while leadership naturally involves disagreements, Governor Mohammed had always prioritised collaboration over personal disputes. “His commitment to unity within the party and across the nation remains unwavering,” he asserted.
The Speaker also highlighted the Bauchi governor’s achievements, including infrastructure development, healthcare improvements, and investment in education. “Bauchi has seen unprecedented transformation under his watch, and no amount of political mudslinging can erase that fact,” he said.
Suleiman urged politicians to engage in constructive discourse rather than resort to character assassination. He warned that Dogara’s approach undermined meaningful governance conversations. “Politics should be about ideas, not personal attacks,” he said.
Concluding, Suleiman reaffirmed Governor Mohammed’s legacy as a leader dedicated to Bauchi State’s development. “No desperate attempt to rewrite history can overshadow his achievements. His work speaks louder than the words of his detractors,” he stated.