Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed
ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has stated that people of the state have been criticizing him for constructing roads across the state.
Governor Mohammed said this at a reception to mark his 63rd birthday organized by some Muslim Clerics in the state held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House on Tuesday.
He said those criticizing his efforts of providing road infrastructure in the state have said that the move was aimed at making money.
“I know there are some gaps here and there in terms of leadership, empowerment and so on and so forth; and people are even criticizing me for building roads saying that building roads is a means of making money.
“Where is the money that the roads were not built? Has the money been saved or given to anybody? It is far away from this, but certainly, we will continue to condone and accommodate whatever criticism. But as Ulamas, people that are close to God, I want you to give me the benefit of the doubt.
“If you have any qualms, my leadership is open, we have the Secretary to the State Government, even the legislature is open to petitions and the rest and our representatives as Commissioners, I will listen.
“But where I assessed that you have 1,000 Ulamas and just one or two are criticizing me, I think it is a win-win situation. I don’t expect everybody to praise me, and you will find me accommodating and I will not resort to any blackmail or excessive use of power.”
Speaking on calls for him to contest the 2023 presidential election, he said he was not craving for it.
He said: “Our leadership is made an example to the Nigerian nation because somebody like me that has risen from the royal family, I became a Director, a Senator, then Minister and now Governor. There is nothing I have not become, I must show gratitude to all of you and to God most importantly.
“The call for me to run for the presidency is maybe because of my modest contribution to Bauchi. It is not me that is craving for it, if I stay like this, I thank God and I cherish what I have become.”
The governor also stated that there is an increase of bandits and criminal elements coming into the state with connivance with traditional and community leaders.
He however, warned that his administration will not condone acts of sabotage which affect the people.
“We must thank the Police, the SSS, the Military and the security apparatus for keeping the peace. Today in Nigeria, Bauchi is the safest state in northern Nigeria.
“It is not that we don’t have incidents of people that are coming into the state with very bad attitudes, bandits and what have you, collaborating, sometimes, with our traditional rulers and community leaders.
“We are dealing with them decisively. Our leadership is full of accommodation but we will not condone acts of sabotage that will affect the people. We will make sure we major and take the big course approach in terms of making sure that we don’t use excessive power. Those criticizing us are giving us the opportunity to do better,” he said.