According to Vanguard, Yakubu Dogara, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, has revealed the significant role Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), played in facilitating Bala Mohammed’s 2023 gubernatorial victory in Bauchi State.
Dogara shared these insights in light of the public dispute between Wike and Mohammed, which revolves around the ongoing issues within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In a detailed letter titled “Gov. Bala vs Wike: Let the truth be told,” Dogara also disclosed how Wike went to great lengths to secure Mohammed’s nomination and provide financial backing for his campaign.
The former Speaker expressed little surprise at Mohammed’s recent attacks on Wike, citing Mohammed’s well-known tendency toward ingratitude and betrayal.
Dogara reflected on the situation, stating, “In the face of such injustice, I ask myself if personal comfort should be prioritized over speaking the truth. Can I allow wrongdoing to persist because of fear of conflict?”
He emphasized that allowing injustice to fester without challenging it would only make the situation worse. As someone with extensive knowledge of the events between Wike and Mohammed, Dogara admitted that remaining silent would be not only cowardly but also complicit.
Dogara further explained that his intention was not to defend Wike, but to share the truth as he knows it, regardless of how it might reflect on Wike’s character. He recalled an event from the 2018 PDP gubernatorial primaries, when there was uncertainty about whether Mohammed would win, as his main competitor, Senator Abdul Ningi, had significant control over the party structure. Dogara shared that it was Wike who came to their rescue, without them initially revealing that Mohammed was their preferred candidate.
According to Dogara, Wike responded by reassuring them and taking steps to ensure that things went smoothly. He appointed his close ally, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, to oversee the primary elections, and even arranged for Orbih to travel from Benin City to Bauchi on a private jet, covering all the costs.
Dogara expressed shock that despite Wike’s generous support, he did not ask for anything in return, contradicting the notion that Wike is a “transactional” figure.
The story continued with Dogara explaining the financial struggles after Mohammed secured the PDP ticket. Despite promises to fund the campaigns of all PDP candidates, it became clear that Mohammed did not have sufficient funds for his own campaign, much less for the others. The fundraiser they held yielded only a modest amount, which led them to seek Wike’s help once again.
Dogara recounted the visit to Wike’s residence in Port Harcourt, where they arrived without informing Wike in advance that Mohammed would be accompanying them. Upon Wike’s arrival, he became noticeably distant toward Dogara, expressing his grievances about his past interactions with Mohammed, including how Mohammed had previously denied him land and treated him poorly during their time as ministers under President Jonathan.
Despite these past tensions, Wike agreed to assist them, though he warned that they would regret their decision if Mohammed became governor. Wike confronted Mohammed about these past issues, and Mohammed apologized, promising to change.
Dogara went on to describe how Wike provided the necessary funds to kick-start Mohammed’s campaign and even arranged for a private jet to fly them back to Abuja. This was not the first instance of Wike’s generosity, as Dogara noted that Wike had provided continued support without ever asking for anything in return, defying the stereotype of being a “transactional” figure.
Hear him speak: “He was like, speaker why did you bring Bala to my house without even caring to find out what our mission was. I said to him, I thought he is your friend since both of you served in the same cabinet under President Jonathan. He said to me, ‘let me tell you what you don’t know. When we were ministers, Bala Mohammed allocated plots of land to all ministers except me.
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