PDP Caucus Reps Fires Back At Dogara Over Attack On Gov Bala, Calls Him As Political Retiree

BY KHALID IDRIS DOYA, Bauchi 

The members of the Bauchi State People’s Democratic Party PDP caucus in the House of Representatives have condemned the verbal attack on Governor Bala A. Mohammed by former Speaker house of representative Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, described him as a political retiree.

They defended the governor Bala for his giant strides in governance of Bauchi State and for his nationalism which prompted him to pick holes in the speech of President Bola Tinubu to protesters of #EndBadGovernornance at a most crucial time.

The Caucus said that the verbal attack on the person of governor by Dogara is borne out of hatred of the rising profile of Governor Mohmmed and a part of motive by the former speaker to warm his way into President Bola Tinubu’s heart after his treachery betrayal.

A statement on Wednesday signed by chairman of the caucus, Hon. Mansur Manu Soro, representing Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency said: “We would have ignored Dogara’s statement for what it is: the sour grapes by a sore loser who is capitalising on an opportunity to redeem his battered image as a political retiree.”

“However, we shall be failing our constituents who, on the one hand, are victims of the unprecedented hardship the country is experiencing and, on the other, beneficiaries of the giant strides recorded by the people-oriented PDP-controlled state administration under the able leadership of Senator Bala Mohammed.”

The statement was also jointly signed by others caucus Hon. Sani Ibrahim Tanko representing Shira/Giade Federal Constituency as Secretary; Hon. Aliyu Aminu Garu ( Bauchi), Hon. Bappa Aliyu Misau (Misau/Dambam) Hon. Adamu Hashimu Ranga, (Ningi/Warji), Hon. Auwalu Audu Gwalabe (Katagum federal) and Hon Mohd Dan Abba Shehu (Zaki).

While describing the Speaker’s diatribe as ill-advised yet predictable, they slammed Dogara for pretending to align with the protesting youths who had been at the receiving end of the missteps of the APC-controlled Federal Government.

“With what we know as federal lawmakers of the betrayal Dogara orchestrated against Tinubu in the 2015 speakership election between him and President’s Chief of Staff, the Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Dogara should be taking the President Tinubu for a ride if he thinks that maligning Governor Bala Mohammed will erase the treachery and get him the President’s attention,” the Bauchi federal lawmakers stated.

“It should still be fresh in the minds of both the President and his Chief of Staff on how Dogara and his co-travellers weaponized sectional differences and deployed a campaign of calumny, to steal the Speakership seat from Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila. Neither the President nor his Chief of Staff will forget the use of calumnious words that we don’t want to mention here again.

“Unlike Dogara who craves personal benefit from the present situation, while pledging to work with the President and all stakeholders towards exiting the present quagmire, let the word go out that we stand resolutely with Governor Bala Mohammed, a nationalist and patriot, a modernising and transformational leader whose iconic footprints on Bauchi’s developmental landscape have changed the lives of our people  and his achievements, recognized and applauded by eminent Nigerians including the Federal Government.”

“The former Speaker begins his statement by attacking President Tinubu and concurring with Governor Bala Mohammed that Nigerians are undergoing excruciating hunger, hardship and insecurity,” the said.

“Then, leaving the substance of Bala Mohammed’s statement calling for concrete steps to reset the economy, Dogara launches a vicious attack on the person of the Governor.   

“Pray, if Dogara had been motivated by noble and patriotic considerations, why would he prioritize style over content, prose over substance and an individual, no matter how powerful, over the entire society? 

“The substance of the matter is that Nigerians can no longer cope with the high inflation, insecurity, and complete erosion of their living standards that have created a huge confidence deficit across the country. 

“That Dogara devoted about 98% of his write-up to sycophantic abuse of Governor Bala Mohammed tells the extent of hatred he has against the person of the Governor.”