Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state has said political meaning should not be attached to his absence from the Nigerian governors’ New Year visit to the Lagos home of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
On New Yearâs Day, several governors under the Nigeria Governorsâ Forum (NGF) visited President Tinubu at his Ikoyi residence to mark the occasion.
The governors included Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state, Babagana Zulum of Borno state and Abba Yusuf of Kano state, among others.
Interestingly, Bala Mohammed, who is the chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)âs Governorsâ Forum, was absent, fueling rumors of political discord between him and Tinubu.
TimesNow.com.ng recalls that Mohammed said President Tinubuâs tax policies are anti-north and warned that the region would soon show its âtrue colours.â
But on Thursday, January 2, the governorâs special adviser on media and publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, dismissed any political undertones to Mohammedâs absence from the visit to Tinubuâs house.
The governorâs spokesperson revealed that Mohammed was mourning the loss of his 102-year-old stepmother, Hauwa Duguri, who passed away on New Yearâs Day.
Gidado said:
Speaking further, Gidado said:
As reported by The Punch, he noted that Mohammed was still receiving sympathisers offering condolences.
Read more about Bauchi governor Mohammed here:
Meanwhile, TimesNow.com.ng reported that despite the criticism from northern groups and leaders, Governor Bala Mohammed emphasized that all governors are in support of President Tinubuâs leadership.
However, he pointed out that certain members of the president’s cabinet are hindering his efforts, advising him to remove them.
Mohammed spoke when he landed in Rivers state amid permutations for the 2027 election and early moves by the APC against Sim Fubara’s government and second term.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
