Kehinde Fajobi
The Presidency has responded to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed’s recent remarks about President Bola Tinubu, urging him to focus on governance and stop playing “irresponsible politics.”
Earlier this week, Governor Mohammed discussed the state of the nation with Sheikh Sani Jingir, National Chairman of the Council of Ulama Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’Ikamatis Sunnah, who had supported the Muslim-Muslim ticket that brought President Tinubu to power in May 2023.
During the discussion, Mohammed claimed that the president did not listen to the people and that the northern region had been most impacted by Tinubu’s policies.
He specifically criticised the proposed tax reforms, suggesting they would further impoverish the region.
In response, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, issued a statement on Friday, calling the governor’s comments “irresponsible politics.”
The statement read: “Governor Bala should face governance and stop using President Tinubu to burnish his vanishing image.
“Rather, he should occupy himself with dealing with the many problems of his state. Ambition is made of sterner stuff.”
The Presidency emphasised that President Tinubu is focused on revamping the nation’s economy, stating: “He has a four-year mandate to deliver on his promises. Nigerians have started to see the real impact of reforms of the Tinubu administration.”
Dare also reiterated that the Tinubu administration is prioritising development and collaboration with state governments to address issues impacting Nigerians.
The Presidency further dismissed Mohammed’s claim that Tinubu does not listen, asserting: “President Tinubu is a listening leader who firmly believes in the institutions of state.”
It urged critics of the Tax Reform Bills to engage with the legislative process, questioning how Governor Mohammed has used the increased resources available to his state to improve the lives of its people.
The statement concluded by reminding Governor Mohammed of his duty to the people of Bauchi, urging him to stop engaging in “irresponsible politics” and focus on improving governance in his state.