Cleric accuses Bauchi Governor of financial mismanagement

By Kunle Sanni

A prominent Bauchi-based Islamic cleric, Idris Abdulaziz, has accused Governor Bala Mohammed of financial mismanagement, claiming the governor lacks the moral authority to oppose President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills.

In a viral video, Abdulaziz alleged extravagant spending by the governor, referencing reports that the state government allocated ₦400 million to purchase six computers, a claim widely circulated in local media.

“He allocated ₦66 million for each computer, and it’s all in the newspapers,” Abdulaziz said. “How can someone who does this criticize federal policies on tax reforms? His criticism is just an attempt to gain cheap popularity.”

Governor Mohammed, a vocal critic of the tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly, has argued that the reforms are harmful to northern Nigerians.

Speaking during a meeting with Islamic clerics on Wednesday, he accused the federal government of disregarding the struggles of ordinary citizens.

“Our people are suffering, and the president has refused to listen to us,” Mohammed said. “You [clerics] are among the few individuals the president listens to; I urge you to approach him on this matter.”

However, Abdulaziz dismissed the governor’s remarks as politically motivated. “He’s not fighting for the northern region; he’s exploiting this for personal gain,” the cleric asserted.

Abdulaziz further accused the governor of bias in resource allocation, claiming unfair treatment of his group.

“He revoked our Eid prayer ground and donated it to other groups,” he said. “While he gave another group 120 hectares, he took away our one hectare. This isn’t about patriotism—it’s political opportunism.”

The cleric also alleged that the governor’s criticism of federal policies is part of a strategy to advance his political ambitions. “He’s using this as a stepping stone to achieve his goals, even if it means misleading northerners,” Abdulaziz claimed.

Abdulaziz criticized fellow clerics who praised Governor Mohammed for constructing mosques, accusing them of ignoring alleged financial mismanagement.

“They commend him for building mosques but won’t call him out for misusing public funds,” he said.

He also advised clerics to refrain from taking sides in the political conflict between Nigerian and Nigerien leaders, emphasizing that the issue is political rather than religious.

The cleric’s remarks are the latest in a long-standing dispute with Governor Mohammed. Abdulaziz openly opposed the governor’s re-election bid in 2023, instead supporting his main rival, Abubakar Sadiq of the APC.

In January 2024, security forces raided Abdulaziz’s residence in Bauchi, prompting him to leave the state, citing persecution. He later returned following the intervention of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.