Bauchi: Gov Mohammed Faces Backlash Over Nepotism In Key Appointments

The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has been accused by the publisher of WikkiTimes, Haruna Salisu, of nepotism and suppressing dissent.

The publisher of the media organisation based in Bauchi alleged that the governor prioritises family and loyalists in key appointments and silences critics to maintain control over the state’s administration.

Salisu criticised the appointment of two of the governor’s relatives, Rilwanu Mohammed and Adamu Duguri, as heads of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Agency and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), respectively.

He described these appointments as nepotism, emphasizing that sensitive government ministries and agencies are dominated by the governor’s associates and family members.

“Let us look at your cabinet. Strategic ministries are manned by your family and friends. Who is heading the PHC? He is your blood relative why, because everyone knows that there is intervention from developmental partners running into billions of naira. Therefore one of the ways to siphon money there is to have loyalists and family members to man such places.

“To the best of my knowledge, there’s no governor in Northern Nigeria that demonstrated glaring disregard to due process and nepotism like Governor Mohammed. He is nepotistic and intolerant of constructive criticism of his administration’s policies,” Salisu remarked.

The publisher further accused the governor of intolerance toward constructive criticism.

According to him, individuals who voice opposition to the administration’s policies are often arrested or silenced.