Senator Shehu Umar Buba, representing Bauchi South, has rejected allegations from Governor Bala Mohammed that he supported and sponsored bandits for pilgrimage.
The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, issued a statement through his Legislative Assistant, Hassan Gajin Duguri, on Friday, describing the governor’s petition to President Tinubu as “both laughable and regrettable.”
Senator Buba accused Governor Mohammed of being responsible for the withdrawal of his chieftaincy title and labeled the governor as desperate, warning that he would not be intimidated.
The statement detailed that “as the Senator representing Bauchi South in the National Assembly, Senator Buba has endured Governor Bala Mohammed’s arrogance, excesses, and unbecoming behavior, which includes unfounded fabrications stemming from the senator’s defense of the President against repeated disparaging remarks.”
The senator’s assistant emphasized that “Governor Mohammed not only orchestrated the withdrawal of Senator Buba’s chieftaincy title but also employed political proxies to undermine his standing within the state. Such underhanded tactics reveal the governor’s desperation, and the senator refuses to be intimidated.”
The statement expressed no surprise at the governor’s latest actions, which allegedly involve fabricating falsehoods in a petition to the President.
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According to the governor’s letter, he claims that one Abubakar Idris, a suspected bandit, and Zainab Aliyu Gado were registered to perform the pilgrimage through a supposed Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Buba named Yahaya Ibrahim.
In response, the aide clarified: “Senator Buba does not have a Senior Legislative Aide by the name Yahaya Ibrahim. While it is the responsibility of security services to conduct due diligence on potential Hajj pilgrims, Senator Buba sponsors numerous individuals for the pilgrimage each year, based on recommendations from elders, community leaders, and religious figures.”
The aide further stated, “We are aware that Hajiya Zainab Ali was thoroughly screened and permitted to perform Hajj, whereas Abubakar Idris was arrested for further investigation without any interference from the senator’s office.”
The statement also noted that “as Chairman of a crucial Senate committee, Senator Buba has actively championed initiatives aimed at counter-insurgency and anti-banditry, which are beginning to yield positive results.”
Highlighting the ongoing political tension, the statement remarked, “Governor Bala Mohammed has waged a political war against Senator Buba and others who dare to question his leadership style and arrogance.”
Recalling past political interactions, the statement recounted that “in 2019, when Bala Mohammed faced political challenges, Senator Buba personally introduced him to then APC Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, through Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. However, just months later, the same governor turned against President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Tinubu, and the APC at a PDP campaign rally in Bayelsa State, showcasing his ungrateful and duplicitous nature.”
Senator Buba remains firm in denying these allegations and reaffirmed his commitment to serving his constituents and ensuring national security. He is recognized for positively impacting his constituency through scholarships, skills acquisition programs, and youth and women empowerment initiatives.
The statement highlighted his contributions to infrastructure development, poverty reduction, and providing social amenities to mitigate the effects of petrol subsidy removal.
In conclusion, the statement asserted, “Regardless of the Governor’s sinister intentions, he cannot halt the winds of change gathering strength in Bauchi. His days of unbecoming and unethical behaviours are numbered. The momentum for change has already begun, and no amount of blackmail will deter or intimidate my boss.”
