Bauchi State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed, has accused his predecessor, Mohammed Abubakar, of being the most financially reckless governor.
The governor’s claim was contained in a statement issued on Monday by his Spokesman, Dr. Ladan Salihu.
The statement was in response to comments credited to Abubakar, to the effect that he left N11.7 billion in the coffers of the state.
The statement read: “The attention of His Excellency, the Governor of Bauchi State, Sen. Bala Mohammed was drawn to comments credited to the immediate past Governor of Bauchi State, Barr. M.A Abubakar to the effect that he left Eleven Billion Naira (N11.7billion) at the time he handed over.
“The Gov., Sen. Bala A. Mohammed will not engage his predecessor by joining issues with him in the media, but in this case the Former Governor’s comments were completely at parallel with the truth.
“The amount, N14.5billion was an Infrastructure Refund from the Federal Government released to the states via the National Assembly to which Bauchi among other states was a beneficiary.
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“The Immediate Past Governor, mounted pressure on the DMO and the Minister of Finance to release the instrument which he took to the CBN and Auctioned it to the CBN at a rate far lower than normal.
“The funds were subsequently lodged into the State’s FCMB Account less than 24 hours to hand over. However, Eleven (11) hours to his departure, the immediate past Governor approved the payment of the whole sum of 11,7billion Naira to cronies as contractors.
“Sen. Bala Mohammed, then an incoming Governor reached out to the EFCC who effectively blocked the Account and ensured the full recovery of the entire amount.
“The immediate past Governor will go down in History as the most preferred nominee in Guinness Book of Records for the most financially reckless and profligate Governor.
“The Bauchi State Governor, Sen. Bala A. Mohammed expresses appreciation to and commend EFCC, expresses appreciation to Gombe Zonal office for their timely intervention which ensured full recovery of the funds, thereby saving the Administration and the State from the vagaries of a financially reckless Administration of Governor M.A Abubakar.”