Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has launched a scathing accusation against the Federal Government, claiming it is weaponising the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to harass him and his officials. The governor alleges this persecution is a direct consequence of his steadfast refusal to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
A Defiant Stance Against Political Pressure
Governor Mohammed made these explosive allegations on Wednesday, December 31, in Bauchi. The claims were presented as he signed the state's 2026 appropriation bill into law. He revealed that one of his commissioners is currently being detained by the anti-graft agency, a situation he directly links to political intimidation.
"As a governor, someone who is the head of the opposition, my commissioner has been kept and will not be released by the EFCC," Mohammed stated. He expressed outrage that despite the constitutional immunity he enjoys as a sitting governor, his name was prominently mentioned in a court motion. "Even when I have immunity as a governor, my name was stupendously mentioned in a motion in a court of law in Nigeria. Me, Bala Mohammed," he emphasized.
Allegations of Institutional Weaponisation
The governor, who also chairs the PDP Governors' Forum, accused the APC-led Federal Government of systematically using state institutions to target and intimidate political opponents. He framed the actions as a broader pattern of abuse against Nigerians who are not members of the ruling party.
"The APC-led federal government thinks they can use the courts and institutions of government, like the EFCC, to persecute and prosecute Nigerians who are not within their own party," he declared. Governor Mohammed was unequivocal in his resistance, insisting that no amount of pressure would compel him to switch allegiance. "I refuse to join their party, and I will not join their party," he asserted.
He issued a stern warning, indicating that his previous silence, maintained for peace and security, was over. "If they don't stop, we are going to declare war. I assure you we are not going to keep quiet any longer. I won't allow anybody to criminalise me because I'm not in their party," the governor vowed.
Broader Accusations of Neglect and Poor Policies
Governor Mohammed extended his criticism beyond political persecution, levelling serious charges of neglect against the Federal Government concerning Bauchi State. He claimed that despite controlling the lion's share of national resources, the central government has failed to deliver basic infrastructure to his state.
"In my state, they have not provided one kilometre of road. You have not provided water," he lamented. He further claimed that he personally funds security agencies to operate effectively in Bauchi. "Even the security agencies, I'm the one paying them to work for us, and they have the guts to talk," he added.
The governor also took aim at the Federal Government's tax policies, warning that if not urgently reviewed, they risk pushing more Nigerians into poverty. His comments come against the backdrop of reports that the EFCC has filed fresh criminal charges against Yakubu Adamu, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, and others. The charges are related to alleged terrorism financing involving approximately $9.7 million.
