Bauchi State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed, on Wednesday firmly denied any links to terrorism, describing claims associating him with terrorist activities as “shocking and absurd.”
Mohammed made the remarks at the Executive Chambers of the Government House, Bauchi, while receiving an Award of Excellence as a Safety Ambassador from the Safety Institute of Nigeria.
“I was shocked to hear that I have been accused of terrorism as a sitting governor. I am not a terrorist, I have nothing to do with terrorism, and I will never condone criminality of any kind,” the governor stated.
The governor described the allegation as ironic, given his long-standing efforts to promote peace, security, and community development in Bauchi State.
“I have been an ambassador of safety without even knowing it until today. This award belongs to the people of Bauchi State. Together, we worked for peace and security, and together we earned this recognition,” he said.
He also expressed concern over the treatment of his Commissioner for Finance, currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), calling the situation part of a broader pattern of political persecution.
“Despite my constitutional immunity as a governor, my name was mentioned in a motion before a court of law, while my commissioner remains incarcerated. These are troubling developments in a democratic society,” he said.
Mohammed lamented what he described as the shrinking space for tolerance in Nigeria’s political environment, stressing that political differences should not be criminalised.
“Politics has become something else in this country. You don’t have to denigrate people or label them criminals simply because they belong to the opposition or refuse to join the ruling party,” he added.
The governor said he had deliberately remained quiet in the interest of peace and stability but warned that his silence should not be mistaken for weakness.
“I have kept quiet for the sake of peace and security and for the common people, but I am not a coward,” he stated.
Bala Mohammed also criticised the Federal Government’s fiscal policies, particularly the implementation of the new tax law, which he said would further impoverish Nigerians and weaken state governments.
He maintained that Bauchi State remains one of the most peaceful states in the North due to inclusive governance and cooperation across party lines.
“We have APC, PDP and NNPP in Bauchi, and we are living together in peace. That is democracy. That is tolerance,” he said.
Earlier, a Life Member of the Safety Institute of Nigeria, Dr. Haruna Malgwi, said the award was given after a thorough assessment of the governor’s safety policies and interventions across the state.
“This institute does not give awards lightly. His Excellency met all the criteria and deserved to be honoured as a Safety Ambassador,” Malgwi said.
