President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, hosted Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The meeting sparked a lot of reactions because it held hours after Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), leaving Mohammed as the lone PDP governor in the entire North East region.

Fintiri’s defection makes APC to be in control of all but one state in the North East region.

Borno, Gombe, Yobe, Taraba, Adamawa are now under APC, while Bauchi is the only state under the PDP.

But Mohammed told journalists after the closed-door session that insinuations that the meeting was about political realignment were unfounded.

“I am a PDP man. I am not here for politics or defection. I am here for governance and partnership. This is a time to collaborate with the Federal Government in the national Interest, particularly on security.”

He said the activities of bandits and criminal elements had resulted in sporadic clashes with security agencies and triggered panic among residents, “many of whom have fled to neighbouring local governments and states for safety.

“I personally visited the affected areas with heads of security agencies, assessed the situation and compiled a report which I presented to Mr. President, seeking special intervention. The response has been very positive. He has given directives and assured us of federal support.”

The governor said Bauchi is also considering a joint security summit with contiguous states, Taraba, Plateau and Gombe, to strengthen inter-state collaboration against banditry and criminal elements operating across shared forest belts.

He warned that Bauchi, which has enjoyed relative peace over the past two decades, could not afford a prolonged security setback at a time of renewed investor interest, particularly in mining and emerging oil and gas prospects in the state.

On the issue of State Police, the Bauchi Governor reaffirmed his support for decentralised policing, saying Bauchi is prepared to embrace the initiative once constitutional processes are concluded.

“We are very ready for state police. We have always supported it because it will reduce the burden on the Federal Government and make governors more responsive and accountable,” he said.

Reacting to Fintiri’s defection, Mohammed said, “Any governor can leave because it is Fintiri’s decision to leave and it may not be his own decision, adding, “I’m not coming here for defection, I’m coming here for governance, for partnership. I’m coming to a father of the nation to give us support and he has answered positively and that settles it.” (Daily Trust)

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