Former Speaker of the House of Representatives in Nigeria, Yakubu Dogara, has accused Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed of betraying those who supported his rise to power, revealing that Mohammed knelt before Nyesom Wike in 2018 to seek financial assistance for his gubernatorial campaign.
Dogara alleged that without Wike’s financial backing, Mohammed would not have won the 2019 Bauchi governorship election.
A History of Political Betrayal?
Dogara’s revelations come amid the ongoing leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The feud between Mohammed and Wike intensified after the Bauchi governor accused Wike of betraying the PDP by allegedly supporting the APC in the 2023 presidential election. Mohammed has also called for Wike’s resignation as FCT Minister.
Wike, in response, branded Mohammed a hypocrite, recalling how the governor switched from the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to the PDP while still benefiting from a PDP-led government.
How Wike Saved Mohammed’s Campaign
Dogara narrated that Mohammed had little financial capacity to fund his campaign in 2018, as his main opponent, Senator Abdul Ningi, controlled the PDP structure in Bauchi State.
During a fundraiser at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, Mohammed’s campaign team raised only ₦48 million, far below the needed amount. Desperate, Dogara led a delegation to Port Harcourt, where Wike agreed to fund Mohammed’s campaign despite past grievances.
According to Dogara:
“Wike bore all the costs, from providing a private jet to fly Chief Dan Osi Orbih to Bauchi, to personally ensuring Bala Mohammed’s emergence as the PDP flag bearer.”Despite Wike’s unconditional support, Dogara accused Mohammed of now “biting the hand that fed him.”
Dogara Calls Mohammed a “Serial Betrayer”
Dogara did not hold back, labeling Mohammed a “psychopath” and “serial betrayer,” citing his alleged betrayals of Wike and other political figures, including elder statesman Alhaji Bello Kirfi.
The ongoing rift between Mohammed and Wike further highlights the deep divisions within the PDP, particularly as the party grapples with internal conflicts and accusations of disloyalty.
With 2027 elections approaching, this power struggle could significantly impact the PDP’s chances in both Bauchi State and at the national level.
