Photo: Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.
ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi-
The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers in Bauchi state House of Assembly, have alleged that the State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed led administration in the state is coercing and inducing its members into joining the ruling People’s Democratic Party in the state.
The APC caucus lawmakers which controls the Bauchi 9th Assembly with 19 members including the Speaker, urged Governor Mohammed to, in the interest of peace and democratic tenets, stop coercing, inducing the lawmakers into his party, the PDP.
This was contained in a media statement signed by 16 members of the 17 members of the House of Assembly, listed on the document which was made available to journalists.
The Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman, did not append his signature to the statement for some unknown reasons.
They warned the Governor not to truncate the good relationship existing between the two arms despite the political party differences and affiliation.
The statement read in parts: “It is disappointing that the government which has benefited from the goodwill, unconditional support and cooperation to achieve relative success, is now actively inducing, coercing and forcing the hand of some of our members to defect to the PDP with a view to diminish our majority in the House and to perpetrate sinister agenda against our beloved party ahead of the 2023 elections.
“We hereby note that this ugly line of action being taken by this government will be strongly resisted by the APC caucus”.
“We assure our teaming supporters that we will not accept such breach of trust and betrayal of confidence by Sen. Bala Mohammed administration”.
“We hereby reiterate our resolve to remain united in the face of this cowardly provocation and selfish move and to ensure our loyal party supporters that APC remains our party of choice. We will continue to champion any positive interest of the good people of our dear state now and always.”
It added that, “APC holds the majority in the state House of Assembly whilst the PDP is of the minority. That advantage, which is significant, did not make us frustrate or undermine the programmes or direction of Sen. Bala Mohammed Administration.
“Instead, we put aside party differences and worked cooperatively with the government at all times to ensure its success, since it is the same people that elected us and we are serving same.”
According to the statement, Governor Mohammed had, on many occasions, championed and expressed his satisfaction with clear gratitude to the legislative arm of the state in supporting his administration.
In a swift reaction, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters (State and National Assembly liaison), Sani Burra, denied the allegations.
He stated that the members are defecting to the ruling PDP as a result of the Governor’s performance in the state.
“No one is coercing or inducing anybody. All I know is that some of them decided to join the PDP willingly based on the performances of the Governor so far. Everyone of them has one project or program going on in his Constituency”.
“Based on the projects that are initiated by the Governor, they are convinced. I was an elected member of that House and you know as a member, your goal is to bring developmental projects to your constituents. Most of them have certain projects they want the Governor to execute at their various local governments,” Burra stated.