From Paul Orude, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has warned once again that the current policies being implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, if not checked, are capable of destroying the fortunes of the country.
Mohammed gave the warning when he received Apostle Johnson Suleiman, the Senior Pastor and General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, at Government House, Bauchi, on Wednesday.
He explained that he did not have any personal grudge against President Tinubu in view of his constant criticisms of the policies of the federal government but expressed pessimism about them.
The governor maintained that he would not be tired of pointing out the shortcomings of the President as long as Nigerians continue to be shortchanged by his policies and programmes.
“First of all, let me take this opportunity to clarify in the presence of the man of God, Apostle Suleiman, who has spoken from the heart. You have heard him,” he stated.
“I don’t have any personal grudge against the President.
“I am one of those who respects the institution of leadership, especially that of the president. You know my antecedent in the Senate when I rose for the Doctrine of Necessity. It is to dignify the office of the Vice President, where my boss became the presidency.”
Governor Bala Mohammed said that, on the contrary, he deeply respects President Tinubu.
“But someone must rise to the occasion to tell him the truth,” Mohammed stated. “That he is surrounded by misfits, and I can now understand from the man of God.”
“Tinubu entered governance ill-prepared, without an agenda, without a manifesto. We believed so much in him because of his pedigree and antecedent as a Lagos governor who was able to work magic.
“I was jumping when he became president, even though I am from a different party.
“I thought an ‘uhuru’ had come, but I have seen freedom and development eluding us, and I must advise, as a responsible statesman, as a head of a sub-national, that you cannot stifle the aspiration of Nigerians by making all the citizens of Nigeria just customers in a bid to actualise your aspiration.
“We should see Nigerians as citizens, not customers. We should not bring policies that will divide us. We should live and let live, respecting our diversity.
“We should not practice impunity where people feel that they are shortchanged.
“We should practice inclusivity.
“I am just trying to say that in your government you can do it better by accommodation, by inclusion, and by coming up with a straight vision of where you want to take Nigerians, not a fire brigade approach where you will be running after policies and programmes that are alien to us, policies that are not understood and may be misconstrued.
“Tinubu’s policies don’t have a clear vision and are taking us down the road to perdition and destruction. That is why when I talked about the tax reforms, it is not because I don’t want reform, but I want reform that will have a national impact on us. I don’t have anything against the president but respect.”
Earlier, while fielding questions from journalists, Suleiman blamed Nigerians for their current predicament.
“What Nigerians are going through is partly what they deserve in the sense that before the election we cried out, we screamed, we yelled because when someone comes into leadership without a single manifesto and says it is my turn, there is nothing you can hold him against because there was no manifesto.”