Dogara Calls Bala Mohammed a “Psychopath” for Betraying Wike’s Generosity
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has accused Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike of playing a crucial role in securing the 2018 gubernatorial nomination for Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, both financially and logistically.
Dogara, in a statement issued on Tuesday, accused Mohammed of betrayal, claiming he had “bitten the hand that once fed him.” According to Dogara, the odds of Mohammed winning the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primaries were slim due to the party’s structure being controlled by his rival, Senator Abdul Ningi.
Dogara recounted that he reached out to Wike for help, who assured him of his full support. Wike then appointed his ally, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, to chair the primary election panel and even provided a private jet to fly Orbih to Bauchi for the assignment, covering all expenses with no conditions attached.
After Mohammed secured the PDP flagbearer ticket, Dogara revealed that it became clear the candidate lacked the financial resources to fund his campaign. Despite a fundraiser organized at Sheraton Hotel in Abuja, which only raised a meager N48 million, the campaign team was left stranded without adequate funding.
In a desperate move, Dogara led a delegation to Port Harcourt, where Wike once again came to their aid. During the visit, Wike reportedly expressed frustration over Mohammed’s past treatment of him, citing unresolved grievances from their time as ministers under President Goodluck Jonathan.
Dogara revealed that despite these grievances, Wike provided financial assistance, including another private jet to support Mohammed’s campaign. He shared that Mohammed had knelt before Wike to accept the funds and promised to change his ways.
“It’s shocking that Bala Mohammed, who had no financial capacity for his campaign, now has the audacity to call Wike ‘transactional,’” Dogara said, emphasizing Wike’s instrumental role in Mohammed’s eventual victory.
The former Speaker went on to describe Mohammed as a “psychopath” and a “serial betrayer,” accusing him of turning on Wike and other benefactors, including elder statesman Alhaji Bello Kirfi. He criticized Mohammed for labeling Wike a “transactional politician,” despite the latter’s immense generosity during his gubernatorial bid.
The public dispute between the two has escalated, as Wike and Mohammed have clashed over the PDP leadership crisis. Mohammed has accused Wike of betraying the party by allegedly working with the All Progressives Congress (APC), while demanding Wike’s resignation. Wike, on his part, fired back, calling Mohammed a hypocrite and pointing out his past switch from the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to the PDP while benefiting from a PDP administration.
The rivalry is also thought to be tied to the ongoing feud between Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, in Rivers State, with Mohammed siding with Fubara, further complicating the relationship between the two politicians.