By: Joy Musa
The Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has launched a scathing attack on the Federal Government over the ongoing tax reform laws and the arraignment of his Commissioner for Finance by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations bordering on terrorism financing involving $9.7 million.
Speaking on the matter on Wednesday, Governor Mohammed described the development as politically motivated and an attempt to intimidate opposition figures, alleging that the APC-led Federal Government is using state institutions to persecute those who do not belong to the ruling party.
“I woke up to an accusation that I am being accused of terrorism,” the Governor said. “My Commissioner of Finance is being held by the EFCC, and my name is being mentioned in the suit even though I have constitutional immunity.”
Governor Mohammed expressed outrage over what he called selective prosecution, insisting that the allegations were baseless and aimed at tarnishing his image because of his refusal to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I have kept quiet for too long. I am not a coward,” he declared. “I will not allow anyone to criminalise me because I am not in the APC, and I refuse to join the APC. I will not join the APC.”
The Governor also criticised the Federal Government’s performance in Bauchi State, accusing it of neglecting critical infrastructure and social services.
“They have not done one kilometre of road in Bauchi State. They have not provided water. Even the security agencies operating here, I am the one paying them to work for us, and yet they have the guts to talk,” he said.
On the controversial tax reform laws being pursued by the Federal Government, Governor Mohammed warned that the policies would further impoverish ordinary Nigerians and weaken sub-national governments.
“The Federal Government should look at its tax system. In spite of all the impurities in the reforms, they are still going ahead with them to impoverish the common man and the sub-nationals (states), and we are expected to keep quiet,” he stated.
The Bauchi Governor further accused the APC-led administration of weaponising the judiciary and anti-corruption agencies against political opponents.
“The APC-led Federal Government thinks it can use the courts and the EFCC to persecute and prosecute Nigerians who are not in their party,” he said, warning that continued actions along this line could deepen political tensions in the country.
“If they do not stop, we are going to resist it,” the Governor added, insisting that intimidation would not force him into political submission.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had yet to issue an official response to the Governor’s allegations, while details of the charges against the Bauchi State Commissioner of Finance remained before the court.
The development has continued to generate reactions across political circles, raising fresh concerns over federal state relations, the implementation of the tax reform agenda, and the use of anti-graft agencies in Nigeria’s charged political environment.
