The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bauchi State has said that Governor Bala Mohammed is biting the hand that feeds him by continuously criticising President Bola Tinubu’s policies.
The APC which said it was the president’s policies that led to increased budgetary allocations in billions to all the states including Bauchi, wondered why the governor will be criticising such policies despite being a direct beneficiary.
In a statement issued in Bauchi by Saadu Umar, Bauchi APC Publicity Committee Chairman, also said the Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar’s accusations against the governor was a gospel truth while the governor was “indulging in lies and absurdly exaggerated phony ‘noteworthy achievements'”.
The APC said it is delusional for the Governor to hide behind the facts and consider constructive criticism as mere political rhetorics.
The statement added that despite increased influx of billions of naira into the state from the federation account, instead of providing purposeful leadership that will alleviate the sufferings of the masses, the governor continues to plunge the state into debts.
“Bala got ₦133.18 billion from federation account by the end of Q3 2024, according to the Budget Performance Report 2024. Last October and November Bala got another windfall of ₦18 billion taking his total to ₦150 billion in 11 months. Besides, Bala borrowed another ₦100 billion! And what did Bala do with the money? the APC asked.
The party alleged that the Bauchi State Government’s hire of a “financial consultant” was only a ploy to siphone public funds, saying that the sum of N21 billion was paid to the consultant in two years, as contained in the state’s budget performances report.
“He paid ₦11.7 billion to a “financial consultant” without appropriation, according to Bala’s Budget Report. This consultant cornered over ₦21 billion in the last two years. And, Bala built big beautiful white hacienda for himself”, alleged the APC.
It said while the state’s education and health care sectors continue to remain in decay, the governor lavishly awards contracts in areas which are of lesser benefits to the common man.
The party further said while other governors are praising president Tinubu’s economic reforms, Governor Bala choose to do the opposite.
“While Bala reaps the fruits of the FG’s economic policies in billions monthly, as pointed out by Tuggar, he plays the ostrich and blames the president for all his ills.
“Honest governors like Uzodinma of Imo confessed that Tinubu’s bountiful economic policies are “direct blessings to the state governments” and the policies afford governors the chance to grow and develop their states”, it added.