Wike to Mohammed: Face your problems with your ‘super powers’

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has asked Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed to “face his problems” with the “super powers” the governor allegedly boasts of and stop linking him to the political crises in Bauchi.

Wike spoke on Thursday during a “thank you” visit to Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, while reacting to allegations by Mohammed on Channels Television’s *Sunrise Daily* earlier in the day.

Mohammed had accused the FCT minister of orchestrating the current crises in Bauchi politics and recalled that Wike once threatened to “put fire” in his state.

Responding, Wike dismissed the claim as a blame game, saying he had only warned Mohammed on issues of party leadership and should not be dragged into Bauchi’s problems.

He said, “If you do not have such power, why are you fighting? If you have the power to put out a fire, then go ahead and do it. Face your problem.

“You came to my state. I told you to be careful. Leave my state alone because you wanted to impose a party leader in my state.

“I warned him; you will see the consequences. Today, he does not have a party to produce his successor. That is exactly what I warned him about.

“If you know you do not have the strength to fight, why don’t you retreat?”

Wike maintained that his issues with Mohammed were strictly at the level of party leadership, insisting he had no interest in Bauchi’s internal affairs.

He also referenced ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging that the governor’s associates were being probed over suspected terrorism financing.

“What is my business? If your state is clean, go there and clear yourself. Don’t come and tell Nigerians stories. Leave me alone and go and face your problems,” Wike said.

The former Rivers governor further fired back at Mohammed’s claim that he (Wike) was “selling land” in Abuja, challenging the Bauchi governor to explain his own record when he served as FCT minister between 2010 and 2015.

“You were Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2010 to 2015; why not tell Nigerians what you did with Abuja?

“You sold land everywhere. The contracts you awarded you couldn’t complete them. Now I am the one completing the projects.

“Nigerians are singing our praises every day. That means I have done well and I will continue to do well,” he stated.

The event in Abua-Odual also turned into a show of political solidarity as local leaders lined up to pledge their allegiance to President Bola Tinubu and Wike.

Chairman of Abua-Odual Local Government Council, Owolobi Ofori, assured the minister of “100 per cent loyalty,” saying political leaders and traditional authorities in the area were united behind him.

“We know who we are following, and we know where we are going. Our loyalty will never be in doubt; we are ready for you 100 per cent,” Ofori said.

Member representing Abua-Odual State Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, John Iderima, praised Wike’s record as governor, saying the communities in the area “never had it good” until his administration.

Former Minister of State for Environment, Udi Odum, also pledged to work with Wike “for the development of the area,” declaring that “whoever did not get your blessing will fail in this area.”

Women in the LGA, represented by their leader, Ukel Oyakimi, equally pledged “complete loyalty” to Wike and President Tinubu.

“Our loyalty is with you, and we will continue to follow you wherever you go,” she said.