Tax reform row: Forum tackles presidency over comment against Bauchi gov

The North East Unity Forum (NEUF) has tackled the presidency over its appeal to Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, to face governance and stop “playing Irresponsible Politics,” with the Tax Reforms Bill. It said the governor should occupy himself with dealing with the many problems of his state rather than attacking President Bola Tinubu’s administration. […]

The North East Unity Forum (NEUF) has tackled the presidency over its appeal to Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, to face governance and stop “playing Irresponsible Politics,” with the Tax Reforms Bill.

It said the governor should occupy himself with dealing with the many problems of his state rather than attacking President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Mr Sunday Dare, made this stance in a statement he signed Friday morning titled ‘Gov. Bala

Mohammed is Playing Irresponsible Politics.’
Dare was responding to Mohammed, who criticised President Tinubu, saying his economic reform policies are putting the North and Nigerians at large under strain.

While receiving the National Chairman Council of Ulama Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’Ikamatis Sunnah, Sheikh Sani Jingir, earlier in the week, the Governor said he is not on good terms with the President, whom he accused of not listening to the people.

“It is true that we are not on good terms with him [President Tinubu] because our brothers and sisters are suffering. Even we, the governors, are suffering. Aside from his policies, he does not listen to us,” Mohammed told Jingir, who was a staunch proponent of the Muslim-Muslim Ticket that brought Tinubu to power in May 2023.

He expressed frustration over the president’s refusal to address the hardship, adding that the North has been particularly affected by the recent Tax Reforms proposed by the Federal Government.

However, the Presidency said, “Governor Bala should face governance and stop using President Tinubu to burnish his vanishing image. Governor Bala is playing Irresponsible Politics. Rather, he should occupy himself with dealing with the many problems of his state. Ambition is made of sterner stuff.”

Weighing in, the NEUF in a statement by Comrade Yusuf Umar, its Chairman said the Presidency who “ought to be concerned about the realities of suffering of majority of Nigerians have decided to instead beret Governor Bala Mohammed for speaking to the voices of wisdom about the reality of the masses of Nigerians.”

Umar said: “In case Mr. Dare has forgotten or may be he is unaware that Alhaji Bala Mohammed is not an accidental public servant like Dare himself and his cohorts, Governor Bala Mohammed having worked as a Public Servant for nearly 30 years, served as FCT Minister in the past, elected as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and now serving a second term as Executive Governor of Bauchi state.

“These pedigree, trust and accomplishments positioned Governor Bala in a better chance to comment, advise and discuss matters of Public concern particularly as there is ongoing malice to malign Northern Nigeria in the controversial Tax Reform Bill which Governor Bala has expressed his reservation about and against vehemently.

“We would like to call the attention of the confused Spokesman to rather face the reality of the masses of Nigerians and advise Mr. President on the need to focus on humane policies against the malicious policies that are not yielding any result but empowering a few cabals who claim ownership of Nigeria.

“Governor Bala Mohammed has spoken the minds of the masses of the Northern Nigeria, he has highlighted the need for the insensitive Government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to note that under his watch, Nigerians are now dying of hunger and others of ailments simply because life has been stiffled out of them as a result of outdated, archaic and unworkable policies.

“We also re-echo the position of the Governor as the position of the average Northerner whose life has been subjected to subjugation, threat, hunger, fear, melancholy and trauma. This position is a reminder to the President that 2027 is just around the corner and that other coalition of youths organization will work assiduously to ensure that the President never returned for a second term in office as this will amount to murder of already paled Nigerians.

“Governor Bala Mohammed has accomplished as a Governor, uplifting the masses of Bauchi state, creating policies that engenders egalitarianism, progress and development. Dare should face the shame of putting Nigerians into risk of early death as championed by His Principal, the President of Nigeria and stop commenting on the economic, political and social situations of Bauchi state which he knows nothing about. The masses of Bauchi state are well pleased with their Governor and will forever be ready to defend his mandate.”