- Bala Mohammed: “ You Can’t Put Fire in Bauchi State”
- Wike: “I’ll Put Fire in Your State…”
By Abiola Olawale
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to take different dramatic twists and turns as Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike are locked in a fierce battle of words over the leadership crisis in Rivers State.
It would be recalled that the PDP Governors’ Forum chaired by Bala Mohammed had declared support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State as the leader of the PDP in the state.
The Governors had further affirmed that Fubara should be allowed to assume his rightful leadership role within the party in the state.
However, Wike rejected the resolution, saying that he would take firm action against any PDP-controlled states that threatened his political structure in the state.
He stated: ”Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of the PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say they will take over the structure and give back to somebody.
“I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace – anything you see you take.”
In a counter-response, the Bauchi state governor declared that no individual possesses the capability to destabilize his state.
Mohammed, while addressing the press, downplayed the threats of Wike.
According to him, Bauchi State has a lot of water to quench whatever fire.
He said: “Nobody can put fire in Bauchi State. Bauchi has volumes of water. Even my friend that is saying that he is saying that because he is annoyed.
“Maybe I had said something that annoyed him. But it is not personal. My friend is my friend, my job is my job and leadership is leadership.
“None of the parties are insulated from crises here and there and that is why leadership is there. If we quarrel it is not personal. Nobody should misunderstand us. We are together.”
