Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has issued a bold challenge to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over alleged threats to destabilize the upcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention.
Speaking at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday during the inauguration of the party’s National Convention Organising Committee, Governor Mohammed condemned moves by Wike and his loyalists to undermine the party’s planned convention, scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan.
Without directly naming Wike, the Bauchi governor fired back at recent statements made by the minister’s camp, daring them to “form a faction of fools” if they wish.
“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,” Mohammed declared to loud applause from party members.
Reiterating his support for internal consensus and unity within the PDP, the governor stressed that these values should not be mistaken for weakness.
“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,” he said.
Governor Mohammed firmly stated that the Ibadan convention remains non-negotiable, assuring the PDP leadership of full backing from the governors’ forum.
“We certainly can’t wait. The time has come when we must flex our muscles. We are capable of navigating this party beyond the shenanigans, beyond the arrogance, and beyond the impunity of others,” he added.
Calling for discipline within the party, he vowed that disruptive actions would no longer be tolerated:
“Yes, consensus. Yes, accommodation. But accommodation cannot mean stupidity.”
His remarks appeared to be a direct response to a press conference earlier that day, where former Benue Governor and Wike ally, Samuel Ortom, delivered a statement on behalf of Wike’s group, setting harsh conditions for cooperation with the party.
Ortom, who attended the PDP committee inauguration later, sat quietly as the Bauchi governor criticized those trying to derail the convention process.
Turning to the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, Mohammed expressed the governors’ unified support for the convention and the party’s direction:
“We are with you on this journey as governors. We believe in the capacity of INEC and are confident that PDP remains a valid, credible institution governed by the rule of law.”
“If anybody wants to become a faction of fools, we will allow him to go and do it,” he concluded, earning another round of applause.
