National Youths Re-Awakening Forum for 2023, NYRAF-2023, has taken a swipe on the House of Representatives member representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, Dachung Musa-Bagos, for criticising Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.
Recall that Mr Bagos had during Wednesday’s plenary raised a motion condemning Governor Mohammed’s alleged divisive comments on the recent ethnic clash between Yoruba people and Fulani herders as Sasha Market in Oyo State.
Rising in the governor’s defense, the group, in a statement signed on Thursday by its Convener, Adnan Mukhtar-Adam, said Mr Mohammed’s comments were not divisive and inflammatory, “but rather intended at cautioning all stakeholders to guard against escalating tension and calm frayed nerves towards forestalling a reprisal up North”.
According to the group, Mr Bagos’ comments on the governor are instead the “semantic bickering” that is likely to enable nerves to continue flaring and cause an unwanted situation.
Mr Muktar-Adam said: “Firstly, we need to correct the lawmaker’s erroneous and warped understanding that Governor Bala’s statement was not divisive and inflammatory but rather intended at cautioning all stakeholders to guard against escalating tension and calm frayed nerves towards forestalling a reprisal up North.
“In any case, we wonder why Honorable Dachung will among a pool of authoritative voices who delved into the matter, single out the Executive Governor of Bauchi State for attack during plenary as much as we believe there are more pressing demands than singling out a governor for attack, one in which we have strong reasons to believe he was being sponsored by former speaker Yakubu Dogara,” he alleged.
The also accused Mr Bagos of being in the habit of attacking people in positions of authority, saying: “Dachungs penchant for attacking authority is cerebral and not surprising especially when he has got backing.”
He added: “A single glance through his Twitter handle will reveal this. For instance, on 22nd October 2020, in response to the #LekkiTollGateShootings, he tweeted and we quote in part, “It is rather unfortunate that those saddled with the responsibility of protecting peaceful protesters turned out to be the oppressors”.
“It is worthy of note that Dachung did not find it worthy to leave a word for our security and response agencies who were equally affected and some of them even brutalised by some mob.”
The group’s convener, therefore, stressed that Governor Mohammed, “is by all standard and yardstick a Nationalist who cares about National Unity and security and this is obvious from his antecedents”.
“We hereby advise Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos to reserve his energy against Bala Mohammed and concentrate more on the welfare of his people,” Mr Muktar-Adam added.
The group, therefore, advised the lawmaker to focus on his legislative job, saying that there are other more pressing issues to deliberate upon, other than the governor whose intention was clear.
He said: “If the honorable house member is not aware there are so many motions to move and we will do him the honors of enumerating some for free as follows:
“One: a motion calling for the arrest, interrogation and prosecution of Sunday Igoho, the mastermind of the mayhem.
“Two: a motion calling for the constitution of peace and reconciliatory committee that will work towards healing wounds and foster unity in vulnerable areas.
“Three: a motion mandating state governors to work collectively towards National Security.”
The group also advised Mr Bagos to sheath his sword against Governor Mohammed and work harder than he is currently doing, “because as a young vibrant legislature, he has a great potential which may be cut short if he continues to offer himself for proxy wars”.
“In conclusion, we would like to reiterate our unreserved commitment and support for vision Bala Mohammed,” the group stressed.
