For the first time after his removal as Wazirin Bauchi, Elder Statesman, Muhammadu Bello Kirfi has said that he is not bordered by being relieved of his traditional role of Wazirin Bauchi.
The elder Statesman said this at his residence in Bauchi on Sunday in an interview with journalists.
“When I was first confronted to serve as Wazirin Bauchi, I refused because I cannot jettison my political life and businesses for the meagre salary of the office of Waziri which cannot cater for the daily spending of my family at that time.
“But at the end, after I was convinced by then Emir of Bauchi, I accepted to work on a part-time basis,” he said.
The Elder Statesman said he will tactically deploy his political apparatus to sack Bauchi State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed in exactly the same proportion he worked to bring him to power in 2019.
Kirfi said that the governor betrayed the trust of the political gladiators that made sacrifices to bring him to power, adding that nearly four years into the first tenure of the governor, salient issues direr to the people of the state remain unattended to despite repeated promises.
He said he is not moved whatsoever by the decision of the Bauchi State Government to sack him from being Wazirin Bauchi using the Bauchi Emirate Council.
Kirfi, who was a former State Minister for Foreign Affairs during the government of former President Sehu Shagari said the day of reckoning for Bala Mohammed is fixed with grave political consequences.
“I was instrumental in bringing him to power in 2019. I did all I could to see that he emerged victorious against a government that enjoys federal might at that time.
Bauchi Emirate Council to Coronate New ‘Waziri’ 2 Days After Ousting Kirfi
“I will Kick him out of office as I worked assiduously to bring him on board,” he declared.
He said at the time when Bala needed the most critical support to actualise his political ambition, “I was there for him all through.”
Kirfi said he is not moved whatsoever by his removal as Wazirin Bauchi, adding that he was doing the job on a part-time arrangement because the remuneration attached to the office of Waziri can never be sufficient to take care of his family.
Kirfi said that evidently, Bala fought every single political heavyweight in Bauchi that worked for his victory in the 2019 general elections, citing example of the way and manner he treated a former Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Bauchi Emirate Council in a letter signed by the Council Secretary, Alhaji Shehu Mudi Muhammad and dated 3rd January 2023, removed Kirfi from being Wazirin Bauchi and a member of the Bauchi Emirate Council forthwith.
The Emirate argued that its decision to strip Kirfi of his role keyed from an order it received from Bauchi State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs directing the emirate to do so.
“I am directed to refer to a letter received from the Ministry of Local Government Affairs with reference No: MLG/LG/S/72/T dated 30th December, 2022. The content of the said letter indicated your disloyalty and disrespect to the Executive Governor of the state and the government. It is therefore directed for your removal with immediate effect.
“In view of the above, you are hereby removed from office as Wazirin Bauchi and also as a council member of Bauchi Emirate. I wish you the best in all your future endeavours,” the letter read in parts.
When contacted for comments, the Director of Media and Publicity 2023 PDP Gubernatorial Campaign Council, Yayanuwa Zainabari refuted the power of Kirfi in unseating Bala Mohammed ahead of this year’s gubernatorial election in Bauchi.
He said, “Bala Mohammed is seeking reelection from Bauchi electorates, not a single individual because it is God that gives power to whom He wills.”
Zainabari said as a campaign council, they are not bordered by the flagrant powers of Kirfi.
