The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has strongly rejected allegations by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed that he is behind the political challenges facing the state, describing the claims as baseless and diversionary.
Governor Mohammed had alleged on Thursday that Wike was plotting against him, claiming the former Rivers State governor once vowed to “put fire” in Bauchi and is now using federal agencies and political influence to destabilise his administration. He also criticised Wike’s leadership style as FCT minister, questioning his spending priorities and accusing him of fueling crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Responding during a “thank you” visit to Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, Wike dismissed the accusations, saying Mohammed was attempting to blame others for his self-inflicted political problems.
“I watched what the Bauchi governor is saying, that all the problems he’s having are because of me, because I said I would put fire in his state. If I had such power, why are you struggling? If I have the power to put fire, why are you fighting?” Wike said.
The FCT minister argued that Mohammed’s political difficulties stem from his actions within the PDP, particularly his alleged attempt to interfere in Rivers State politics.
“You came to my state. I told you, ‘Be careful, leave my state alone.’ You wanted to impose a party leader in my state. Today, he doesn’t even have a party to bring his successor,” Wike added.
He said he had earlier warned PDP leaders against meddling in states beyond their control, noting that the current political disarray in Bauchi was a consequence of ignoring such advice.
Addressing claims that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was acting on his instructions against some of Mohammed’s associates, Wike denied any involvement, insisting that law enforcement agencies should not be politicised.
“Now EFCC is chasing them, and he says it’s me. What’s my business? If your state is clean, go there and enjoy yourself,” he said.
Wike clarified that his disagreement with the Bauchi governor was strictly about party leadership issues and not governance or financial matters.
“I’m only fighting with you as party leadership. I’m not interested in what you spend,” he stated.
He also challenged Mohammed to account for his own tenure as FCT minister between 2010 and 2015, accusing him of hypocrisy.
“You were Minister of FCT from 2010 to 2015. Why not tell the people what you did in the FCT? The whole land, you sold it. Do the roads, you awarded contracts, they collected upfront, and now I’m the one completing the projects,” Wike said.
Concluding, Wike suggested that he had become a convenient scapegoat for political crises across the country.
“Anybody who has a stroke, it’s Wike. Anybody who has a headache, Wike. They are in Sokoto, Wike; in Taraba, Wike; in Lagos, Wike; in Bauchi, Wike. So it means this Wike is too strong,” he added.
