By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State at the flag-off of his gubernatorial campaign for a second term bid in Gamawa LGA of the state over the weekend, openly lend credence to the presidency of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in the next polls.
The governor’s action to team up with Atiku Abubakar, his party presidential flagbearer, attests to the fact that he is no longer with the caricature of the G-5, the party’s dissidents of five governors that are poised to jeopardizing the chances of their presidential candidate ahead of the elections.
Senator Bala Mohammed’s open support for Atiku Abubakar exhibited at the Gamawa campaign rally, has laid to rest the political machinations that the Bauchi State Governor has divided loyalty to the G-5 Governors and the party’s presidential candidate towards the polls.
The G-5 Governors dissidents team is being led by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike with Governors of Oyo, Abia, Enugu, and Benue, Seyi Makinde, Akezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Samuel Ortom respectively as members.
The G-5 Governors, apart from accusing the PDP National Chairman, Mr. Iyorchia Ayu of corruption, also contended that it betrays equity for both the party’s presidential candidate and the national chairman to come from the Northern region, so they chauvinistically bent that Ayu must resign his position ahead of the polls
Political pundits believe that Governor Bala Mohammed may have broken ties with the G-5 governors before things got cock-eyed for him in Bauchi state as he seeks re-election in next March gubernatorial election.
It could be recalled that Governor Bala has recently invited the G-5 governors for his campaign flag-off without inviting the party National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu and the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar , giving speculations that he is pitching tent with the G-5 Governors, only to later withdrew the statement credited to the invitation
It was also on record that the governor had earlier written a protest letter to the party hierarchy alleging that Atiku Abubakar supporters in Bauchi were working against his re-election and that Atiku was in annoyance with him, having the duo in parallel contested presidential primary elections.
But at the flag-off of his re-election campaigns, Mohammed refuted any plan to oppose Atiku Abubakar, and publicly declare support for Atiku at his gubernatorial campaign in Gamawa Local Government Area of the state.
Governor Bala, at the mammoth crowd campaign flag-off in Gamawa, appealed to them to support Atiku in 2023, saying Atiku is the only candidate that will restore the lost glory of Nigeria if elected President, stressing that Nigeria needs a personality with an all-encompassing knowledge of the country.
Senator Bala Mohammed noted that with Atiku’s eight years of experience as Vice President, he would not have a problem ruling the country, and appealed to Nigerian eligible voters to vote PDP at all elective positions.
He condemned the Federal Government for not giving enough time to allow Nigerians to exchange their old naira notes for new ones, and also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors of using the public funds in their campaigns drive in the name of empowerment.
Mohammed who noted that the APC Governors have been giving out cash and food items just to deceive the people, assured of his administration’s continued commitment to the provision of social amenities such as roads, culverts, schools, and hospitals, as well as the establishment of SMEs and Companies towards boosting the economy of Bauchi state.
