The Bauchi State Government has dismissed as false and misleading a statement credited to the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the state, alleging that Governor Bala Mohammed is not welcome to join the party.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mukhtar Gidado, described the claim as a “mischievous and baseless” allegation that exists only in the imagination of its author.
Gidado said Governor Mohammed has neither contemplated leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nor made any overtures toward defecting to the PRP or any other political party.
“At no time has Governor Bala Mohammed considered leaving the PDP, let alone initiating discussions or moves to join the PRP in Bauchi State,” the statement said.
According to him, Governor Mohammed has instead remained at the forefront of efforts to stabilise and strengthen the PDP amid what he described as contrived crises orchestrated by anti-democratic forces seeking to impose a one-party system in the country.
The media aide noted that the governor’s leadership credentials were well established, pointing to his electoral victories over the PRP in two highly contested elections as evidence of public confidence in his administration.
He added that Bauchi State had, under Mohammed’s leadership, emerged as a regional force, driven by policies focused on inclusive governance, empowerment, infrastructure development, rural transformation, urban renewal and tourism.
Gidado also defended the state government’s reforms, including the restructuring of traditional institutions and devolution of powers, describing them as bold steps aimed at empowerment and emancipation of the people.
“The inability of the PRP to appreciate the benefits of these reforms only exposes a party that is progressive in name but retrogressive in character,” he said.
The statement cautioned residents of the state against what it described as “habitual critics” whose approach to governance, it said, was rooted in constant opposition rather than constructive engagement.
It further stressed that despite challenges and political pressures, nothing would distract Governor Mohammed from his commitment to the development of Bauchi State.
Gidado, however, noted that the governor, like every citizen, retains the constitutional right to freely determine his political future, adding that any such decision, if it ever arose, would not be dictated by “falsehood, malice or political opportunism.”
