- Buba, who is the Chairman Senate Committee on Natural Security and Intelligence, said that he had always adhered to a policy of constructive criticism and refrained from the use of insulting or abusive language
Senator Shehu Umar Buba, has expressed shock over the withdrawal of his traditional title of Mujaddadin Bauchi by the Bauchi Emirate for allegedly insulting Governor Bala Mohammed.
Buba is a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) representing Bauchi South.
“I received with utter shock a letter dated August 14, 2024, informing me of the Bauchi Emirate Council’s decision to withdraw my traditional title of Mujaddadin Bauchi,” he said in a response letter.
“This decision was made over an allegation that I insulted Governor Bala Mohammed during a rally”
Buba, who is the Chairman Senate Committee on Natural Security and Intelligence, said that he had always adhered to a policy of constructive criticism and refrained from the use of insulting or abusive language.
He said he only responded to what he termed Governor Mohammed’s “disparaging comments about President Bola Tinubu”, saying his comment was aimed at defending the image of President
Senator Buba argued that the governor remark to the President’s speech was “confrontational, accusatory, abusive, and defamatory,” and threatened national security.
“I must state that during a recent APC campaign flag-off, I responded to the Governor’s disparaging comments about the President, which I felt were calculated to expose the President to public contempt and disaffection.
“In some of the multimedia contents that have gone viral, the Governor’s rhetoric is confrontational, accusatory, abusive and defamatory.
“Some of the emotive language accusing President Tinubu of ‘lying to us, deception, causing pain anger and hunger’ to appeal to emotions.
“While the allegations by Governor Bala of PDP against President Tinubu of APC are politically motivated, most of them are baseless, unsubstantiated, lacking concrete data and evidence and barefaced falsehood.
“In my response to Governor Bala’s accusation against President Tinubu, I pointed out the following: I refuted his claim that the Tinubu-led Administration abused the office, instead I accused the Governor of abusing people in Bauchi State.
“I disclosed that Governor Bala received over N144 billion from the Federation Account in 2023 and over N47 billion from January to date, with a projected N195 billion by the end of 2024. I asked him to justify how he manages the treasury as citizens are crying of hunger.
“I added that President Tinubu was doing all that is possible to secure the nation, stabilise the economy and ensure peaceful coexistence without polarizing the polity unlike Governor Bala. My remarks were well-intentioned and in defense of a higher authority than a Governor’s.
“I register my sympathy with the Bauchi Emirate Council for hastily drawing a conclusion on this matter without affording me fair hearing. I accept their decision in good faith, hoping that in due time, Almighty Allah will send a messiah to Bauchi State to correct this situation”
The senator advised the Bauchi Emirate Council to resist any attempt by political actors to drag it into the political arena to serve their selfish interests.
“I pray for the long reign of the Emir of Bauchi in sound health, effectively piloting the affairs of his Emirate.” he said.