Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has accused Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, of betraying the trust and generosity of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Dogara made the claims in a statement titled “Let the Truth Be Told”, where he outlined how Wike allegedly played a significant role in salvaging Bala Mohammed’s political career during the 2019 governorship elections.
Dogara’s statement comes amid an ongoing public feud between Wike and Mohammed, with both parties exchanging harsh words.
Earlier, Wike’s media adviser, Lere Olayinka, criticised Mohammed for opposing President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills, calling the stance misplaced. Mohammed responded by calling Wike a “transactional politician” who betrays allies for personal gain.
In his response, Dogara sided with Wike, providing a detailed account of how the former Rivers State Governor extended financial and logistical support to Bala Mohammed’s campaign during a critical moment.
Dogara recalled that during the 2018 PDP gubernatorial primaries in Bauchi State, Mohammed’s chances of winning against Senator Abdul Ningi were uncertain. At that point, Wike stepped in to help, allegedly appointing his ally, Chief Dan Orbih, as chairman of the primaries panel and arranging a private jet for the process.
In his words: “As someone who knows so much because I was the provocateur of the events between the two, I consider my silence not just cowardice but complicity. Therefore, I am not afraid to stand alone or risk conflict. This is not about defending Wike, but stating the raw truth I know.
“For starters, in the 2018 PDP gubernatorial primaries, when we were unsure if Bala Mohammed could win against Senator Abdul Ningi, who controlled the party structure in Bauchi, we turned to Wike for help.
“Wike made his close ally, Chief Dan Orbih, the chairman of the primaries panel and provided a private jet to fly him to Bauchi for the exercise. Wike bore all the expenses without placing any conditions for his support.”
“When Bala Mohammed promised to sponsor all party candidates if he got the ticket, we didn’t realise he lacked the financial capacity to fund even his campaign. A fundraiser was organised at Sheraton Hotel in Abuja, but we only raised a paltry N28 million after expenses. It became clear we had no other option but to seek help from Wike.
“We flew to Port Harcourt to meet him without informing him of Bala’s presence. Initially, Wike was visibly upset, recalling how Bala Mohammed, as Minister of the FCT, had humiliated him by denying him land allocations and ignoring his requests. However, Wike forgave him after Bala admitted to his wrongdoings and pleaded for forgiveness,” Dogara said.
“Wike handed over cash assistance to Bala and even provided a private jet to return us to Abuja. This wasn’t a one-off act of kindness—Wike supported Bala on multiple occasions without asking for anything in return. Yet, Bala has chosen to betray him, proving Wike’s earlier warning that he would regret supporting Bala,” Dogara added.
Dogara also accused Mohammed of having a history of betrayal, citing his fallout with political mentors, including elder statesman Bello Kirfi, a former Minister in the Second Republic.
Dogara added, “Bala Mohammed’s record of betrayal is well-documented. When Wike was his benefactor, he praised him as ‘focused, courageous, and determined.’ Now, he chooses to malign the same man who once rescued him from political obscurity. This is nothing but a shameful act of ingratitude.”
