The Presidency on Friday urged the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, to face governance and stop “playing Irresponsible Politics,” with the Tax Reforms Bill.
It said the governor should occupy himself with dealing with the many problems of his state rather than attacking President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Mr Sunday Dare, made this stance in a statement he signed Friday morning titled ‘Gov. Bala Mohammed is Playing Irresponsible Politics.’
Dare was responding to Mohammed, who criticised President Tinubu, saying his economic reform policies are putting the North and Nigerians at large under strain.
While receiving the National Chairman Council of Ulama Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’Ikamatis Sunnah, Sheikh Sani Jingir, earlier in the week, the Governor said he is not on good terms with the President, whom he accused of not listening to the people.
“It is true that we are not on good terms with him [President Tinubu] because our brothers and sisters are suffering. Even we, the governors, are suffering. Aside from his policies, he does not listen to us,” Mohammed told Jingir, who was a staunch proponent of the Muslim-Muslim Ticket that brought Tinubu to power in May 2023.
He expressed frustration over the president’s refusal to address the hardship, adding that the North has been particularly affected by the recent Tax Reforms proposed by the Federal Government.
However, the Presidency said, “Governor Bala should face governance and stop using President Tinubu to burnish his vanishing image. Governor Bala is playing Irresponsible Politics. Rather, he should occupy himself with dealing with the many problems of his state. Ambition is made of sterner stuff.
“President Tinubu is focused on revamping the economy, and he is working to turn the economic fortunes of the country around. He has a four-year mandate to deliver on his promises.
“Nigerians have started to see the real impact of reforms of the Tinubu administration and better outcomes will continue to manifest in the lives of the citizens in the weeks and months ahead.”
Dare said Tinubu’s administration is laser-focused on issues of development and how to improve the overall well-being of Nigerians.
“The focus of this government is on how to build stronger collaborations with sub-nationals and other critical stakeholders on matters that affect the lives of Nigerians,” the statement read.
The Presidency argued that Tinubu won the 2023 election and secured a national mandate from Nigerians, and he will not surrender that to satisfy the palate of some pseudo-activists and later-day crusaders.
It also opposed Mohammed’s claim saying “President Tinubu is a listening leader and also a leader who firmly believes in the institutions of state.”
On the Tax Reform Bills, it said the President urged that anyone and groups that feel strongly about this matter before the National Assembly should take advantage of the legislative process.
Therefore, “Attempts to stampede or abort this process must be considered undemocratic and self-serving,” it said.
The presidency says the Nigerian public would like to know what Governor Mohammed is doing to make life better for the people of Bauchi State.
It queried, “How well are the people of his state who still rank as most impoverished among Nigerians faring under his leadership?
“How well has he, as Governor, used the increased resources at his disposal to improve the quality of life of his people?”
Just like President Tinubu has a duty to all Nigerians, “Governor Bala has a greater duty and responsibility to the people of his state,” therefore, “Constant blustering and playing irresponsible politics will not relieve him of his duty to the people of Bauchi State his leadership has impoverished,” Dare noted.
