Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has said clearly that he is not a terrorist and has no link to terrorism or any criminal activity.
The governor spoke on Wednesday at the Executive Chambers in Bauchi while receiving an Award of Excellence as a Safety Ambassador from the Safety Institute of Nigeria.
He reacted strongly to reports linking his name to terrorism and to the continued detention of his Finance Commissioner by the EFCC.
While accepting the award, Mohammed said, “I’ve been an ambassador of safety. I didn’t know it was a big thing until the eloquent presenter spoke. I am so delighted that I am receiving this on behalf of the people of Bauchi State.”
He added that the recognition belonged to the people of the state.
He expressed shock over claims against him, saying, “I was just waking up to the realisation that I was told that I’ve been accused of terrorism as a Governor.”
The governor also complained about what he described as unfair treatment by federal institutions.
According to him, “Even when I have immunity as a Governor, my name was stupendously mentioned in a motion in the formal law court in Nigeria.”
Mohammed said he had remained quiet for the sake of peace but could no longer do so.
“I have kept quiet for too long. It is because of peace and security, but I am not a coward,” he said.
Speaking on governance and security, the governor noted that Bauchi State remains peaceful despite challenges in the North.
“There is no security in the Northern part of the country more than that we have in Bauchi state,” he said, adding that different political parties coexist peacefully in the state.
He accused the APC-led federal government of using state institutions against opposition figures, saying, “The APC-led federal government thinks it can use the courts, the institutions of government like the EFCC, to persecute and prosecute Nigerians who are not within their own party.”
Mohammed warned that silence would not continue.
“I assure you, we are not going to keep quiet anymore. I won’t allow anybody to criminalise me because I’m not in the APC, and I refuse to join the APC,” he declared.
He also criticised the implementation of the new tax law, saying it was hurting states and citizens.
“The Federal Government should look into the issue of the tax law… they are still going ahead with its implementation, to the impoverishment of our people,” he said.
Earlier, a member of the Safety Institute of Nigeria, Dr Haruna Malgwi, praised the governor for prioritising safety in Bauchi State.
He said, “We considered four criteria before arriving at the point of acceptance, and His Excellency met all.”
He added, “You have done well, and you deserve to be called Safety Ambassador.”
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