I Can’t Be Threatened As Governor Over My Anti-Tinubu Comments, Bauchi Gov Mohammed Replies Presidency
He asserted that his criticism was made in good faith and was not intended to malign or insult anyone.
Bala Mohammed, the Governor of Bauchi State, has reaffirmed his stance on the proposed tax reforms by President Bola Tinubu, following a call from the Presidency for him to withdraw his comments.
He asserted that his criticism was made in good faith and was not intended to malign or insult anyone.
“I cannot be threatened as a governor. I stand by my comments. It is not meant to malign, insult or to do anything to the contrary other than mean well,” he said.
Mohammed said this on Channels Television’s 2024 Year-End Review programme.
As Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, he warned that the Presidency should not be arrogant, stressing the importance of listening to the concerns of the people.
He pointed out that if the tax bills were passed, they could have serious consequences for sub-national governments, potentially impoverishing them and threatening their survival.
“We believe that as the leader of the federation and all other federating units, they should listen to us, not to be arrogant and showing some elements of impunity that whatever happens, they would go ahead,” Mohammed said.
Mohammed also criticised the Presidency’s approach to the tax bills, labelling it as undemocratic.
He argued that even military leaders would have been more responsive to the public’s concerns and addressed the areas of suspicion and mistrust surrounding the legislation.
He further stated that states without company headquarters should not be neglected or allowed to suffer.
Earlier, Mohammed had voiced his objections to the tax bills in the National Assembly, claiming that they favoured one region over others.
He warned that if the bills were passed, they would lead to unrest, saying that the President would see “our real colour.”
In response, the Presidency described his comments as “inflammatory rhetoric” and accused him of making direct threats towards the federal government.
Governor Mohammed, along with other Northern governors, has firmly rejected the proposed tax reforms, which have stirred controversy since their introduction in Parliament.
Despite the opposition, President Tinubu has maintained that the tax reforms are here to stay.
