The feud between Bauchi state National Assembly lawmakers and the state governor, has taken a more dangerous dimension that may eventually ground the state.
The governor in his desperation to scuttle efforts of the national assembly members to bailing out their constituents from mal-administration and inept leadership, has directed the withdrawal of an earlier approval granted to Senator Isa Hamman (APC Bauchi central) to make use of a government facility to conduct a free eye screening, surgery and other medical services to his constituents in six local government areas of the state.
247ureports was reliably informed that the sudden withdrawal of the approval by the embattled state governor may not be unconnected with his frosty relationship with his members in the national assembly who have alleged several cases of financial malfeasance, leading an exclusive government and perfecting sharp corrupt practices against him.
It could be recalled, that the national lawmakers including the minister of education, Malam Adamu Adamu, former Police Affairs Minister, former member House of representatives from Gamawa, Maitama Tugga and other APC chieftains from the state were recently led by Speaker Yakubu Dogara met with President Muhammadu Buhari to present a formal complain on the excesses of Muhammed Abubakar including “embezzling” the state’s share of the N8.6billion Federal Government bailout given the state among other alleged cases of corrupt practices that is retarding the progress of the state.
The withdrawal letter of the earlier approval for the free eye treatment and other medical services addressed to Senator Isa Hamma Misau was signed by one Ahmed Garba on behalf of the State Commissioner for Health, Halima Mukaddas without stating the specific reason(s) for the sudden withdrawal other than ‘unforeseen’ circumstances.
The letter reads: “I have been directed to refer to our letter MOH/GEN/5/1134/T, dated 16/8/16 and conveying approval for you to conduct free eye out-reach in your constituency and to withdraw same due to unforeseen circumstances”.
Reacting to the twist of events, Senator Isa Hamma said, “The action of the government cannot affect the programme as wished. I have to diverse another way to make sure the programme succeeds for the benefit of the people. Since the state government has woefully failed to provide the needs of the people, we have takeover that responsibility. It is our state and we are not tourists”.
It could be recalled that few months back when the Speaker Dogara arranged for free medical services to the people in Bauchi, the state government denied him the use of a facility provided by the Yuguda administration (State Specialist Hospital) which necessitated the Speaker to change the venue of the programme to a federal government facility that was massively attended.
As the cold war rages, Senator Ali Wakili (APC Bauchi south), Hon. Dr. Sani Abdu, Hon. Halliru Jika, Hon. Ahmed Yerima and few other members were that lucky to have escaped the excesses of the governor when they distributed free fertilizers to farmers, exotic vehicles to party chieftains and interest groups and economic empowerment largesse to the electorates intended to cushion what they termed as effects of inept leadership of the state governor.
In his response to the allegations of embezzling the N8.6billion bailout, Governor Muhammed Abubakar simply said the bailout was used in the settlement of backlog of civil servants salaries and pension but could not give a satisfactory breakdown of figures to debunk the allegations with facts.
On the cause(s) of the love lost between the governor and the state’s national assembly members, the governor’s Special Assistant on Media, Sabo Muhammed said: “The national assembly members are fighting the governor because he refused to oblige to their selfish interests. They asked for houses in Abuja and exotic cars from public funds which the governor rejected and the governor’s refusal to support Dogara to be the Speaker against the interest of the party”.
But observers of events were not convinced with what Sabo said. Muhammed Aliyu Ningi a chieftain of APC said, “That is an imagination of a drowning politician. Sabo lacks what to say in defence of his boss. There was no need for him concoct childish lies against their opponents. We all know those members are above making such a useless request. Let the governor plan another strategy of defence but this one has failed”.
