The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reacted to allegations by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, that he is orchestrating a plot to damage his reputation.
Governor Mohammed, while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, accused Wike of fueling political crises against him.
He alleged that Wike had previously threatened to “put fire” in Bauchi and was now using federal institutions and political structures to destabilise his government.
The Bauchi governor further criticised Wike’s approach to governance in Abuja, questioning his spending pattern and describing him as a major source of internal disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In response, Wike, during a “thank you” visit to Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, rejected the claims, describing them as an attempt to divert attention from Governor Mohammed’s own challenges.
“I watched what the governor of Bauchi is saying—that all the problems he is having are because of me, just because I said I would ‘put fire’ in his state,” Wike said.
“If you know I have such power, why are you fighting? If I have the power to put fire, what are you fighting? Go and face your problems.
“You came to my state. I said, ‘Be careful, leave my state alone.’ He wanted to impose party leaders in my state, and I said, ‘You too, you will see the crisis.’ Today, he does not even have a party to bring his successor.”
Addressing claims that he was responsible for alleged EFCC pressure on some of the Bauchi governor’s associates, Wike denied any involvement, stressing that actions of anti-corruption agencies should not be politicised.
“This is what I warned them: if you know you don’t have the strength to fight, why not go and rest? Now the EFCC is chasing them, and he says it is me. What is my business?
“Go and face your problem. I am only fighting you on party leadership; I am not interested in what you spend,” he stated.
Wike also challenged Governor Mohammed to explain his record as a former FCT Minister between 2010 and 2015 before criticising the current administration.
“He said I am selling land—but you were a minister of the FCT from 2010 to 2015. Why not tell people what you did in the FCT, the whole land you sold?
“You did the roads, awarded contracts, collected upfront payments, and now I am the one completing all the projects.”