Bala Mohammed’s aide denies rumoured defection to PRP

By Rauf Oyewole 

The Special Adviser to Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Mukhtar Gidado has denied rumours hovering around that his principal is considering leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

PRP Publicity Secretary, Wada Abdullahi had on Wednesday said that rumours are circulating, suggesting that Muhammad may defect to “our esteemed party soon, following the disbandment and inevitable collapse of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at all levels.”

He said that the Party does not welcome the Governor into the Party.

But the Special Adviser to the Governor, Mukhtar described the statement as ramblings of an attention-seeker desperate for relevance. He said that the statement is not only false but a figment of the author’s imagination. “We state unequivocally that at no time has Governor Bala Mohammed contemplated leaving the PDP, let alone initiating any move to defect to another party or making overtures to the PRP in Bauchi State.

“On the contrary, it is common knowledge that Governor Mohammed has been at the forefront of rescuing the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the contrived crises engineered by anti-democratic forces bent on turning Nigeria into a one-party dictatorship.”

Mukhtar said that by issuing the statement, if indeed signed by its leadership, the PRP has revealed its true colours. The good people of Bauchi State, according to him, are reminded that all that glitters is not gold. “More importantly, they are urged to remain vigilant, ensuring that the hard-won gains of recent years in empowerment, infrastructure, rural development, urban renewal, and tourism are not entrusted to bellyaching ideologues whose stock-in-trade is habitual criticism of every government.

“Let it be said clearly: despite the treachery faced by the PDP and the constraints of time, nothing , absolutely nothing , will distract Governor Bala Mohammed from his unwavering commitment to the development of Bauchi State.

“Finally, it must be placed on record that, in line with his inalienable right to freely associate in pursuit of a stable and prosperous polity, Governor Mohammed , like any citizen , reserves the right to determine his future political alignments. Should that time ever arise, such a decision will not be dictated by the dubious machinations of political turncoats who thrive on falsehood and malice.”