Popular Bauchi-based Islamic cleric, Idris Abdulaziz, has accused Governor Bala Muhammed of financial impropriety and insincerity in his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills.
In a trending video, the cleric questioned the governor’s moral authority to critique the federal government’s policies, citing alleged extravagant spending by the Bauchi State Government.
“He budgeted N66 million for each computer, and they are buying six at the cost of N400 million; it’s there in the newspapers,” Mr Abdulaziz said, referencing reports from *The Guardian and Daily Nigerian.
“The person who does this will be the one to criticise federal government policies, telling people that he is not on good terms with the president. Your fight with the president is a result of retribution from God.”
Governor Muhammed, a staunch critic of the tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly, had previously described the bills as detrimental to the interests of northern Nigerians.
While receiving a delegation of Islamic clerics led by Sani Jingir, the governor stated, “I am sure you have heard that we are quarrelling with the president. Yes, it is true; we are quarrelling because our people are suffering, and the president has refused to listen to us.”
However, Mr Abdulaziz dismissed the governor’s remarks as politically motivated. “It has nothing to do with showing support for the northern region. He is doing this because he is looking for cheap popularity and a way forward for himself,” the cleric claimed.
He further accused Governor Muhammed of being unfair in the allocation of resources, lamenting the revocation of his group’s Eid prayer ground while alleging that 120 hectares of land were donated to another religious group.
“He is using this as an opportunity for him to get the presidency. If Northerners are gullible, they will see him as a hero, but if he gets what he wants, you will suffer his cruelty, just like the way he is persecuting us now in Bauchi,” Mr Abdulaziz warned.
The cleric also criticised Mr Jingir and his delegation for commending the governor on projects such as mosque constructions without questioning alleged misappropriations of public funds. “The visiting clerics never cautioned their host about stealing from the public treasury,” Mr Abdulaziz remarked.
The Bauchi State Government has denied the allegations of extravagant spending, including the N400 million budget for computers. However, the governor’s spokesperson, Muktar Gidado, has not responded to requests for comments on other accusations.
Mr Abdulaziz, who has had a long-standing feud with the governor, previously fled Bauchi State following alleged persecution and threats of arrest over charges of blasphemy. He returned after the intervention of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
In his video, the cleric also advised his colleagues to refrain from supporting politicians at the expense of citizens.
“Money meant for the people’s well-being is being spent on a few clerics and their organisations,” he said. He further warned against dabbling in the political feud between Nigeria and Niger Republic leaders, stating, “The crisis is political, and both leaders have their official spokespersons.”
