Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y. Suleiman, has strongly condemned recent allegations of electoral fraud against the emergence of the State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, as alleged by the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Barr. Yakubu Dogara.
Abubakar Suleiman described the allegations contained in the former Speaker’s statement as “verbose, baseless, and a self-serving diatribe.”
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Spokesperson, Mukhtar Garba Kobi, the Speaker stated, “Dogara’s allegations were nothing more than an attempt to tarnish the reputation of a leader committed to the progress of Bauchi State.”
Abubakar Suleiman also described Governor Bala Mohammed as a “statesman whose leadership transcends personal interests and political maneuvering.”
According to him, “The Governor’s record of valuable services, grassroots appeal, and commitment to governance earned him the people’s mandate, not backroom deals or personal favors.”
The Speaker then dismissed Dogara’s claims of betrayal, referring to them as a “distortion of political realities.”
In addressing Dogara’s allegation that Governor Bala lacked the financial capacity to run his 2018 campaign, Abubakar Suleiman stated, “The Governor’s success was built on collective support from the people.”
According to him, “Unlike some politicians who rely solely on personal wealth, Governor Bala Mohammed’s leadership thrives on inclusivity and transparency. His campaign was powered by trust, not the whims of a single individual.”
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The Speaker also refuted Dogara’s accusation that Governor Bala failed to support other party candidates, emphasizing that the Governor had consistently worked toward the party’s unity and collective success, stressing that, “It is dishonest to suggest otherwise.”
Abubakar Suleiman added that the Governor remained a pivotal pillar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) both in Bauchi State and nationally.
On the alleged grievances between Governor Bala Mohammed and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Abubakar Suleiman dismissed the claims as distractions.
He argued that while leadership naturally involves disagreements, Governor Bala Mohammed had always prioritized collaboration over personal disputes.
He stressed, “His commitment to unity within the party and across the nation remains unwavering.”
The Speaker also highlighted Governor Bala Mohammed’s achievements, including infrastructural development, healthcare improvements, and investment in education.
According to him, “Bauchi has seen unprecedented transformation under his watch, and no amount of political mudslinging can erase that fact.”
Abubakar Suleiman urged politicians to engage in constructive discourse rather than resorting to character assassination.
He warned that Dogara’s approach undermined meaningful governance conversations, stressing, “Politics should be about ideas, not personal attacks.”
In conclusion, Abubakar Suleiman reaffirmed Governor Bala Mohammed’s legacy as a leader dedicated to Bauchi’s development, with the focus of leaving it better than he found it in 2019.
The Speaker stressed, “No desperate attempt to rewrite history can overshadow his achievements. His work speaks louder than the words of his detractors.”