There is palpable anger in Bauchi State over the endorsement given by the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon Yakubu Dogara to the ambition of Air Marshall Sadiq Baba Abubakar (rtd) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop Alhaji Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Constituents of Dogara’s are angry that “his shenanigans has foisted a distrusted candidate to replace him in the House of Representatives.”
Mr. Samaila Dogara was livid over the situation. ” Bacause of his treachery, the Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro axis broke with a 44 years old tradition. Now he wants to do the same thing with the state to get our people to vote for a party we do not like. We will resist him this time,” Dogara (not a relation of the former speaker) said.
Others from the area used less than decent words, while many said he was being politically selfish, “seeking for political relevance.”
The former Speaker is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and member of the Presidential Campaign Council of the party’s presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
In 2019, according to a statement by his spokesman, Turaki Hassan, Dogara helped mobilise and lead a coalition of political parties and interest groups in Bauchi which ousted former governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar and installed Senator Bala Mohammed in 2019.
“However, shortly after the elections, Governor Bala Mohammed reneged on all political agreements he entered into before the election and declared political war on prominent citizens of the state who opposed his style of governance including Dogara and an elderstatesman Alhaji Bello Kirfi, who was a minister in the second Republic under president Shehu Shagari.
“Dogara had accused Mohammed of corruption including non-payment of salaries of teachers and civil servants.
“On Wednesday, the former Speaker led a campaign team of Air Marshall Sadiq Baba Abubakar across some Bauchi local governments including Kirfi and Alkaleri where Governor Bala Mohammed came from.
“Speaking to a mammoth crowd of supporters in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State on Wednesday, Dogara urged the people to toe the path of honour by voting out the Bala Mohammed from office.
Dogara’s words: “We came to tell you the truth, that we need to effect a change of leadership in Bauchi State.
“I came here to enlighten you that even though your son (Governor Mohammed) is there but since he is not doing well we should change him . I urge you all to cast your vote for Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar on Saturday.”
The former Speaker described Air Marshall Abubakar as a father who will bring succour to the people of Bauchi State.
Turaki recalled that Dogara endorsed and delivered the APC candidate for his Federal Constituency of Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa, Jafaru Leko and the Bauchi South Senatorial District, Shehu Buba in the just concluded National Assembly polls.
