Governor Bala Mohammed, who has gotten recognized as the numero uno in Bauchi State politics, again, began to get a great deal of public attention following an incident that occurred in the state at the weekend.
Barrister Mohammed Abubakar, who Bala stopped from getting re-elected in 2019, but has now become his jolly good friend, had invited prominent figures in the country to his turbanning ceremony and the wedding of his daughter, Khadijah.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and governor of Gombe State, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, Governor Bala Mohammed and other dignitaries attended the event.
Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu, had honoured the immediate past governor with the traditional title of ‘Makama Babba of Bauchi’.
The Vice President was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar and on arrival at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, the crowd sang derogatory songs about the minister.
As it is usually done, the dignitaries left the airport for the Government House in a coaster bus and it was while they were inside the bus that the minister, an indigene of Bauchi State, let out his bottled feelings.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that he directly accused Governor Bala Mohammed of organizing the embarrassing scene at the airport and he began to rain insults on him.
Governor Bala had reportedly called the VP’s attention to this, urging him to caution Turggar.
The Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Mr Auwal Jattau however rose in his boss’ defence, told Turggar that they are from the same senatorial district and he can therefore challenge him without a hindrance and he reportedly slapped his face.
The Vice President was said to have taken steps to salvage the situation by advising the minister not to go to ‘Ramat House’ or attend other planned events.
‘The VP felt that more embarrassing scenes should be avoided hence his decision to advise the minister not to go to Ramat House which is the Government House’ said a source.
The wedding was later held at the palace of the Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu and Vice President Kashim Shettima stood as waliy (guardian) for the bride, Khadijah while the groom’s waliy was Alhaji Yusuf Yakubu Wanka, the Cigarin Bauchi.
Governor Bala’s son, Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed had called people’s attention to the slapping incident through facebook posts while commending the Deputy Governor for demonstrating loyalty to his father.
Shamsudeen reposted two posts made by a Facebook user, Daure David: ‘The First Deputy Governor to slap a Minister in Bauchi. Mr. Taka kasha mari. #Boris. “Breaking News: Tension in Bauchi as Deputy Governor reportedly slaps Minister of Foreign Affairs’.
He also reposted another post in Hausa which said: ‘Yau deputy govna ya jadada loyaltyn sa wa baba Kaura’ Meaning in English : ‘Today, the Deputy Governor reaffirmed his loyalty to Baba Kaura’.
‘Idan zai zagi Kaura sau Goma, Jatau zai masa mari sau goma kyawawa..!’ Meaning, in English ‘If he will abuse or insult Kaura 10 times, Jatau will give him 10 hot slaps’.
Governor Mohammed Bala, the Kauran Bauchi, has actually become the first most talked-about politician in Bauchi State and his supporters are quick to boast that he has defeated two different incumbent governors at two different times.
He defeated the then Governor Adamu Muazu to become the representative of the people of Bauchi South in the senate in 2007 and also stopped the then Governor Mohammed Abubakar from getting re-elected in 2019 .
Bala Mohammed represented Bauchi South from 2007 to 2010. and he had only left the parliament seat because he was appointed as FCT minister by Dr Goodluck Jonathan.
Recall that the then Senator Bala Mohammed had on February 9, 2010, moved the motion that empowered the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to serve as acting president and he had subsequently became a loyalist of the former president.
Why Auwal Jattau Is Fiercely Loyal To Gov Bala Mohammed
Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Mr Auwal Jattau has been Fiercely Loyal to Governor Bala Mohammed to show appreciation for choosing him as his deputy and to also position himself as a potential successor.
Since democracy began in 1999, only one senatorial district : Bauchi South has enjoyed the privilege of producing the governor of the state.
Alhaji Adamu Muazu, Alhaji Isa Yuguda, Mohammed Abubakar and Bala Mohammed are all from Bauchi South senatorial district.
There are three senatorial districts in the state; Bauchi North, Bauchi Central and Bauchi South.
The local governments in Bauchi North are Gamawa,Giade, Itas/Gadau, Jamaaree, Katagum,Shira and Zaki while the local governments in Bauchi Central are Damban, Darazo,Ganjuwa,Misau,Ningi and Warji.
The Deputy Governor and the Foreign Affairs minister are from Bauchi North, while Auwal is from Zaki local government , Turggar is from Gamawa local government.
They are both planning to join the 2027 gubernatorial race and the Deputy Governor knows that someone from Bauchi North can only become the governor of the state if the Bauchi South truly wants him to get such a political aspiration achieved.
Auwal is talking from experience , he was the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the 2015 guber election and he only won in one local government!
Others who are planning to join the 2027 Bauchi State guber race include Senator Abdul Ningi while sources also told Team@orientactualmags.com that Governor Bala Mohammed is giving a serious thought to the idea of allowing the two other districts to enjoy the privilege of producing the governor of the state.
He is also reportedly planning to have his son, Shamsudeen emerge as Bauchi South PDP Senate candidate .
It is not known however if the Bauchi South people are ready to allow other senatorial districts to have a taste of the governorship seat given that they have the numerical strength required to determine where the pendulum swings.
‘ The governor may later have a decision -switch if he sees that the Bauchi South people are determined to keep the governorship seat in their pocket. He would not want his party to lose the guber election. Votes from Toro and Alkaleri local governments alone can determine who wins the guber election. So, he will be very careful about the decision he will take on the issue’ said a source-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
