Governor Bala Mohammed dismisses FCT minister Wike’s threat, reassures stability in Bauchi

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has responded to a threat from Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, who had warned of creating crises in states governed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Mohammed made it clear Tuesday that no one can "put fire in Bauchi," adding that "we have volumes of water," Punch reported.

This was a direct reply to Wike, who asked PDP governors to stay out of the conflict between Wike and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

"Nobody can put fire in Bauchi. We have volumes of water. Even my friend who said that, he's only saying it because he's annoyed. We may have said something that irritated him, but it's not personal. My friend is my friend, and leadership is leadership," Mohammed said, while speaking to members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), who were visiting Bauchi.

"We must put our interests aside and respect our diversity, especially for a party like the PDP that has a history and a pedigree. Most of the developments in this country were done by the PDP."

The governor praised the NWC members for helping keep the party stable despite its challenges. He expressed confidence that the PDP was strong and can handle internal issues through effective leadership.

A pressure group within the Osun State chapter of the PDP, called Professionals in PDP, led by President Sam Segun-Progress, challenged PDP governors to take action against Wike for his statements.

"The recent display of arrogance and uninformed outburst of the Minister of the FCT, Nyesome Wike, is not only shameless but demeaning and unbecoming of a supposed leader," Segun-Progress said. "Is Wike above the law or above the party?"

"What makes him special is that he will be challenging the party leadership with no responses and daring us to act? We must ask the national executives what makes Wike special. Why can't they caution him if he is too big to be disciplined? We ask our governors, why are they afraid of Wike?"

The pressure group also asked the NWC and governors to act against Wike.

Previously, the PDP Governors' Forum said the ward and local government congresses in Rivers State, which handed the party's structure to Wike instead of the sitting governor Fubara, should be cancelled.

Following this move of PDP governors, speaking in Port Harcourt during the state congress, Wike had warned them not to interfere otherwise he would "put fire in their states."

National Legal Adviser Kamaludeen Adeyemi, on behalf of the NWC, congratulated Mohammed on his achievements in Bauchi and saluted his courage as the chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum.