TheCable

A coalition of political stakeholders in Bauchi state says no level of character assassination or threats will deter the people of the state from democratically installing Bala Mohammed as governor in 2019.

Mohammed, a former minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), is on the looters list released by the federal government.

Although the ex-minister has since denied collecting any money illegally, the federal government is insisting that he has some explanations to make.

But the stakeholders have accused the current administration of trying to stop the former minister from presiding over the state.

They promised to stand by Mohammed.

“We recognise that as the 2019 election approaches, the APC governments, at the federal and state levels, will strive to rationalise the dismal performance which has thrown Nigerians into their worst economic nightmare,” a statement signed by the coalition read.

“The fact that Bala Mohammed has graciously offered himself to redeem Bauchi state from the groping and rudderless administration of Governor M. A. Abubakar provides ready impetus for the intensification of this character assassination. But that is a sheer waste of time and resources. We wish to advise that no level of character assassination or threats will deter us, the patriotic people of Bauchi state, from democratically installing Bala Mohammed as governor of the state in 2019.”

The group said since the emergence of the current administration, it has engaged in a blame game of unprecedented proportions all in an effort to cover its failure to deliver on its electoral promises.

The group added that with every passing day, Nigerians are “regaled with hackneyed tales” of how it would take eternity to rebuild the economy, a situation that betrays the insincerity of the party while making promises that, to the trained eye and honest participants were either based on sheer ignorance or outright mischief.

Describing Mohammed as the government propagandist, the group said the minister has run out of ideas for accusing the former FCT minister of looting N5billion.

“As it stands, with the recent release of his list of so-called ‘treasury looters’ in which he included Senator Bala Mohammed, we want to state that not just has he run out of ideas, he has indeed taken this assault on civil liberties to a very dangerous and unacceptable high point.

“Our legal system presumes an accused innocent until proved guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. It is a well-known fact that there are ongoing cases brought up against Bala Mohammed by agents of the Federal Government, in at least two high courts. It is also a well-known fact that the former minister denies all the allegations and is vigorously defending his honour and reputation in court. It is also a fact that, to the best of our knowledge, no court has found Bala Mohammed guilty. Pray, on what ground is Lai Mohammed describing him as a ‘treasury looter’?”