Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has criticized Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, accusing him of betrayal and ingratitude towards the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Dogara’s remarks come amidst an escalating feud between Mohammed and Wike, characterized by public exchanges and counter-allegations.
Recently, Wike’s media adviser, Lere Olayinka, condemned Mohammed’s opposition to President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills, calling it misplaced. In retaliation, Mohammed described Wike as a “transactional politician” who betrays benefactors and shifts allegiances for personal gain.
Addressing the controversy, Dogara, in a statement titled “Let the Truth Be Told” released on Tuesday, recounted how Wike allegedly financed Mohammed’s 2019 governorship campaign, effectively saving his political career.
Dogara said, “As someone who knows so much because I was the provocateur of the events between the two, I consider my silence not just cowardice but complicity. Therefore, I am not afraid to stand alone or risk conflict. This is not about defending Wike, but stating the raw truth I know.
“For starters, in the 2018 PDP gubernatorial primaries, when we were unsure if Bala Mohammed could win against Senator Abdul Ningi, who controlled the party structure in Bauchi, we turned to Wike for help.
“Wike made his close ally, Chief Dan Orbih, the chairman of the primaries panel and provided a private jet to fly him to Bauchi for the exercise. Wike bore all the expenses without placing any conditions for his support.”
Dogara further revealed that after Mohammed emerged as the PDP candidate, his lack of funds for the general election became apparent, forcing them to seek further assistance from Wike.
“When Bala Mohammed promised to sponsor all party candidates if he got the ticket, we didn’t realise he lacked the financial capacity to fund even his campaign. A fundraiser was organised at Sheraton Hotel in Abuja, but we only raised a paltry N28 million after expenses. It became clear we had no other option but to seek help from Wike.
“We flew to Port Harcourt to meet him without informing him of Bala’s presence. Initially, Wike was visibly upset, recalling how Bala Mohammed, as Minister of the FCT, had humiliated him by denying him land allocations and ignoring his requests. However, Wike forgave him after Bala admitted to his wrongdoings and pleaded for forgiveness,” Dogara said.
According to the former Speaker, Wike not only provided funds but also offered logistics support, including a private jet, to kick-start Mohammed’s campaign.
He accused the Bauchi governor of repaying Wike’s generosity with betrayal.
“Wike handed over cash assistance to Bala and even provided a private jet to return us to Abuja. This wasn’t a one-off act of kindness—Wike supported Bala on multiple occasions without asking for anything in return. Yet, Bala has chosen to betray him, proving Wike’s earlier warning that he would regret supporting Bala,” Dogara added.
Dogara also accused Mohammed of having a history of betrayal, citing his fallout with political mentors, including elder statesman Bello Kirfi, a former Minister in the Second Republic.
Dogara added, “Bala Mohammed’s record of betrayal is well-documented. When Wike was his benefactor, he praised him as ‘focused, courageous, and determined.’ Now, he chooses to malign the same man who once rescued him from political obscurity. This is nothing but a shameful act of ingratitude.”