Bauchi Governor Clarifies Absence From Tinubu’s Visit Amid Accusation Of Threat To President

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has stated that his absence from governors’ New Year visit to the Lagos home of President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday was not political.

Naijaonpoint reports that governors under the umbrella of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum visited the President at his Bourdillon Road home in Ikoyi, Lagos, on New Year’s Day,

The governors in attendance included Abba Yusuf (Kano), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), and Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo). Others were Babagana Zulum (Borno), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), and Usman Ododo (Kogi).

However, Governor Mohammed, who also serves as the Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s Governors’ Forum, was notably absent from the visit.

Recall that the Presidency had accused Mohammed of threatening anarchy against Tinubu over his position on the proposed tax reform bills.

Hence, the Governor’s absence from the visit sparked speculation, especially given recent tensions between him and the Presidency over the reform bills.

However, speaking with Punch on Thursday, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, dismissed any political undertones to Mohammed’s absence from the visit to Tinubu’s house.

Gidado explained that the governor had been mourning the loss of his 102-year-old stepmother, Hauwa Duguri, who passed away on New Year’s Day and was still receiving sympathisers offering condolences.

He said, “The stepmother of the governor, Hauwa Duguri, passed away on Wednesday, the same day as the New Year visit. The governor has been restless. As I speak to you, we are in his country home in Duguri, mourning her loss.

“It is uncalled for to link the governor’s absence to his recent exchanges with the Presidency.”