Bala Mohammed carpets Nyesom Wike, says he’s selfish, transactional politician

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has taken a swipe at his former colleague and now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, describing him a “transactional politician” driven by personal ambition and disloyalty.

This was coming on the heels of Wike’s recent media chat where he stated that Mohammed is not his good friend.

Wike had on Sunday during a chat in Abuja also accused some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of being responsible for the party’s crises, adding that their actions and rhetoric of these leaders had contributed to the party’s stagnation.

However, Mohammed, who is also the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governors’ Forum, hit back at Wike and accused the FCT minister of undermining the party, adding that while still claiming to be a member of the PDP, Wike is also promoting the course of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, at the same time.

According to Mohammed, Wike’s divided loyalties were anti-democratic, adding that his erratic behaviour had driven away his allies.

He also rubbished Wike’s comments about their lack of friendship, stating that competence, not personal relationships, is the driver of governance.

Additionally, Mohammed, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado on Friday, condemned Wike’s tenure as FCT Minister, which he said prioritised public insults over meaningful governance.

The governor highlighted Wike’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration as evidence of opportunism, contrasting it with his own principled opposition to the APC’s controversial tax reforms.

“Chief Wike’s ascendancy in politics is a testament to the opportunities provided by the PDP. Yet, he now gleefully undermines the very foundation that nurtured him,” Mohammed noted.

“It is disheartening that a man who owes so much to a party that stood by him in his political journey has chosen to be a willing tool in its denigration.

“His recent media outburst was yet another reminder of his transactional approach to politics, where personal ambition eclipses loyalty, principles, and collective interests.

“Unlike Wike, who thrives on drama and divisiveness, Sen. Bala Mohammed has always understood that politics is not a game of self-serving theatrics but a platform to serve the public good.

“Wike’s erratic behavior and opportunistic alliances expose him as an unreliable and fair-weather friend—traits that alienate even those who once stood by him,” the statement partly reads.

The governor also accused Wike of betraying the PDP and Nigeria’s democratic values.