Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied involvement in the prosecution of the Bauchi State Commissioner of Finance, Yakubu Adamu, over alleged terrorism financing.
The minister urged the state governor, Bala Mohammed, to face his challenges and stop dragging him into his problems.
Mr Mohammed earlier accused Mr Wike of fuelling the terrorism financing charge against his commissioner for finance,Yakubu Adamu, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC recently filed a criminal charge against Mr Mohammed’s commissioner for finance, Mr Adamu, and some other members of his administration, over alleged terrorism financing to the tune of $9.7 million.
Mr Mohammed during his interview on Thursday, described Mr Wike as a disruptive force in Nigeria’s national politics. He alleged that the FCT minister was “a big drag on President Tinubu’s administration” and “an undertaker in the PDP.”
Responding to the allegation during a visit to Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday, Mr Wike charged Mr Bala to face his problems with super powers that he claimed to have and leave him out.
Speaking on Channels Television Sunrise Daily on Thursday, Mr Bala accused Mr Wike of orchestrating the current travails of his administration, noting that the minister threatened to “put fire” in his state.
In response, Mr Wike said, “If you do not have such power, why are you fighting? If you have the power to put out a fire, then go ahead and do it. Face your problem.
“You came to my state. I told you to be careful. Leave my state alone because you wanted to impose a party leader in my state. I warned him, you will see the consequences. Today, he does not have a party to produce his successor. That is exactly what I warned him about. If you know you do not have the strength to fight, why don’t you retreat?”
Mr Wike acknowledged that he was dealing with Mr Mohammed at the level of the Peoples Democratic Party’s leadership, stressing that he was not interested in what was happening in Bauchi State.
He also accused the governor of selling Abuja lands while he was minister of FCT in reaction to the same allegation against him by Mr Mohammed, charging him to focus on the issue his associates have with the EFCC.
“What is my business? If your state is clean, go there and clear yourself. Don’t come and tell Nigerians stories. Leave me alone and go and face your problems.
“You said I was selling land. You were Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2010 to 2015, why not tell Nigerians what you did with Abuja?
“You sold land everywhere. The contracts you awarded you couldn’t complete them. Now I am the one completing the projects. Nigerians are singing our praises every day. That means I have done well and I will continue to do well,” Mr Wike noted.
