Olusegun Ariyo
Bauchi State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed has fired back at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, labelling him a “transactional politician” driven by personal ambition and disloyalty.
Urban Express News Online reports that the attack is coming in the wake of Wike’s recent media chat where he stated that ‘Bala Mohammed is not his good friend’.
During the media chat in Abuja last Sunday, Wike also blamed certain PDP leaders for the party’s struggles, citing their actions and rhetoric as contributing to its stagnation.
Responding, Mohammed, who doubles as the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP Governors’ Forum, accused Wike of undermining the party, the platform that elevated his political career, while advancing the agenda of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
He said Wike’s divided loyalties were detrimental to democracy, adding that his erratic behaviour drove away his allies.
Mohammed also dismissed Wike’s comments about their lack of friendship, emphasizing that governance is built on competence, not personal relationships.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado on Friday, the governor further criticized Wike’s tenure as FCT Minister, accusing him of prioritizing public insults over meaningful governance.
Mohammed highlighted Wike’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration as evidence of opportunism, contrasting it with his principled opposition to the APC’s controversial tax reforms.
“Chief Wike’s ascendancy in politics is a testament to the opportunities the PDP provides. Yet, he now gleefully undermines the very foundation that nurtured him.
“It is disheartening that a man who owes so much to a party that stood by him in his political journey has chosen to be a willing tool in its denigration.
“His recent media outburst was yet another reminder of his transactional approach to politics, where personal ambition eclipses loyalty, principles, and collective interests.
“Unlike Wike, who thrives on drama and divisiveness, Sen. Bala Mohammed has always understood that politics is not a game of self-serving theatrics but a platform to serve the public good.
Wikerratic behaviour and opportunistic alliances“Wike’s erratic behaviour and opportunistic alliances expose him as an unreliable and fair-weather friend—traits that alienate even those who once stood by him,” the statement partly reads.
Mohammed called Wike’s actions a betrayal of the PDP and Nigeria’s democratic values while reaffirming his focus on strengthening democracy and delivering progress in Bauchi State.