Bala Mohammed, Bauchi State governor, has accused the federal authorities of deploying the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC) to “persecute” him.
The governor made the allegation on Wednesday on the Bauchi Authorities Home after receiving an ambassadorial award for security from the Institute of Security Professionals in Nigeria.
He added that related harassment techniques have been deployed in opposition to officers of his administration who refused to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
His feedback adopted the arraignment of Yakubu Adamu, Bauchi commissioner for finance, by the EFCC on Tuesday over alleged cash laundering involving N5.79 billion.
Mohammed mentioned that regardless of having fun with constitutional immunity, his title had been dragged into court docket processes linked to the case in opposition to his commissioner.
“As a governor, somebody who’s the top of the opposition, my commissioner has been saved and won’t be launched by the EFCC,” he mentioned.
“Even when I’ve immunity as a governor, my title was stupendously talked about in a movement in a court docket of legislation in Nigeria: me, Bala Mohammed.”
The governor mentioned he was alarmed by allegations levelled in opposition to him, together with claims linking him to terrorism.
“I woke as much as a notification the place I used to be informed I’m being accused of terrorism,” he mentioned.
“I don’t must say something. I don’t even must go to the general public court docket. However actually, politics has grow to be one thing in Nigeria.”
Mohammed alleged that federal authorities have been weaponising state establishments to intimidate political opponents exterior the ruling get together.
“The APC-led federal authorities thinks they will use the courts and establishments of presidency, just like the EFCC, to persecute and prosecute Nigerians who should not inside their very own get together,” he mentioned.
The Bauchi governor, who chairs the Peoples Democratic Social gathering (PDP) Governors’ Discussion board, mentioned strain techniques wouldn’t power him or members of his cupboard to defect to the APC.
He mentioned he had beforehand chosen silence within the curiosity of peace however warned that continued actions in opposition to his administration would provoke a response.
“In the event that they don’t cease, we’re going to declare conflict,” Mohammed mentioned.
“I guarantee you, we aren’t going to maintain quiet any longer.
“I gained’t enable anyone to criminalise me as a result of I’m not of their get together, and I refuse to hitch their get together, and I cannot be a part of their get together.”
Mohammed additional accused the federal authorities of neglecting Bauchi regardless of controlling the nation’s assets.
“In my state, they haven’t supplied one kilometre of highway or water,” he mentioned.
“Even the safety companies—I’m the one paying them to work for us—they usually have the heart to speak.”
The governor additionally criticised the deliberate implementation of the brand new tax legal guidelines, saying allegations of alterations within the gazetted model should first be addressed.