Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has denied alleged plans to defect to the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), calling them false, malicious and baseless.
The denial was made on behalf of the governor by his media aide, Comrade Mukhtar Gidado, in a statement titled Re: False claims regarding Governor Bala Mohammed’s alleged plan to defect to the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), made available to journalists on Wednesday.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a malicious statement attributed to the Publicity Secretary of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in Bauchi State, alleging that Governor Bala Mohammed is not welcome to join the party.”
“Normally, such a baseless comment would have been dismissed as the ramblings of someone desperately seeking attention for relevance.
“However, experience has shown that silence in the face of falsehood can be misinterpreted as acquiescence. Hence this reply.
“To begin with, the statement attributed to the State Secretary of the PRP is not only false but a product of the author’s imagination. We unequivocally declare that at no time has Governor Bala Mohammed contemplated abandoning the PDP, much less initiating any move to defect to another party or make overtures to the PRP in Bauchi State.
“On the contrary, it is common knowledge that Governor Mohammed has been at the forefront of rescuing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from crises engineered by undemocratic forces bent on turning Nigeria into a one-party dictatorship.”
“Governor Mohammed’s leadership credentials require no further validation. They have been recognized both within and outside Bauchi State, underlined by his decisive victories over the PRP in two closely contested elections.
“Today, Bauchi State stands as a regional force in Nigeria, testimony to a government that prioritizes governance over grandiloquence, the people over power and empowerment and inclusion over the indulgence of a few at the expense of the many.
“It is within this noble vision of empowerment and emancipation that the restructuring of traditional institutions and the devolution of powers must be understood. That the PRP does not appreciate the benefits of such bold reforms only exposes the vacuity of a party that is progressive in name but regressive in character.”
He further stated that: “By issuing this unfortunate statement, if sanctioned by its leaders, the PRP has revealed its true colors. The good people of Bauchi State are reminded that all that glitters is not gold.
“More importantly, they are urged to remain vigilant, ensuring that the hard-won achievements of recent years in empowerment, infrastructure, rural development, urban renewal and tourism are not entrusted to whiny ideologues whose main asset is the habitual criticism of all governments.
“Let us be clear: despite the betrayal facing the PDP and the time constraints, nothing, absolutely nothing, will distract Governor Bala Mohammed from his unwavering commitment to the development of Bauchi State.
“Finally, it must be recorded that, in accordance with his inalienable right to associate freely in pursuit of a stable and prosperous political system, Governor Mohammed, like any citizen, reserves the right to determine his future political alignments.
“If that time ever comes, that decision will not be dictated by the dubious machinations of traitorous politicians who feed on falsehood and malice.”
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