The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has dared the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to form a faction to disrupt scheduled activities of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor, who spoke on Tuesday at the Abuja national secretariat of the PDP, was reacting to threats by Wike and his allies to raise a counterforce against the party’s national convention, scheduled to be held in Ibadan on November 15-16.
Although Governor Mohammed did not mention names, his statement was a riposte to threats by Wike and his allies to frustrate the planned convention. “If anybody wants to form a faction of fools, we will allow him.
We are not cowards, and we are not afraid of any person. “We agree to consensus and accommodation, but that is not cowardice.
“We can’t keep quiet and allow people to continue to take us to the slaughterhouse or take us for granted. Enough is enough,” Governor Mohammed declared. Advertisements The governor, who spoke during the inauguration of the PDP National Convention Organising Committee, declared that the Ibadan convention is sacrosanct
Governor Muhammad ed affirmed the party’s commitment to holding the convention as scheduled, assuring the party’s leadership of the full backing of the PDP Governors. Continuing, Governor Mohammed said, “We are on the way forward. We certainly can’t wait. The time has come when we must flex our muscles.
“We are not cowards, and we are not afraid of anybody. We are capable of navigating this party beyond the shenanigans, beyond the arrogance, and beyond the impunity of others.
“We cannot continue to take part and allow people to take us to the slaughterhouse. That’s our job. And our job is to make sure we don’t go to the slaughterhouse. “And we are working as governors and working with the committee to ensure that.
The keyword is discipline. We will no longer allow or tolerate anybody taking us for granted.
“It has to stop. We are not going to tolerate it any longer. Yes, consensus. Yes, accommodation. But accommodation cannot mean stupidity.”
The governor’s speech drew loud applause from the gathering of party faithful, with many of them encouraging him to “fire on.”
Turning to the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum, the Bauchi governor said, “And definitely, Mr Chairman, we are with you on this journey as governors. And we will show that we believe in the capacity of the regulator, INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission).
“We are confident that it (PDP) is a very valid and credible organisation, driven by the rule of law. This convention is on course. Our party is on course to make sure we have our party. If anybody wants to become a faction of fools, we will allow him to go and do it. Thank you very much, Mr Chairman.
We appreciate it.” Former Benue State Governor and Wike’s close ally, Samuel Ortom, who was part of the gathering, sat quietly at a distant corner in the hall as the Bauchi governor lambasted those working against the interest of the PDP. Ortom had, earlier in the day, attended a press conference convened by Wike at the minister’s Abuja residence.
It was the former Benue governor who addressed journalists after the meeting, where the group set stringent conditions for cooperation with the party regarding the national convention.
There was a subtle threat in the group’s press statement, as read by Ortom, a development that apparently drew the ire of the Bauchi governor.