Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has failed to bring the development he achieved when he was governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Trust published on Saturday, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum said he has tried to advise the present administration on its policies but it seems Tinubu is resistant to advise.
While expressing respect for Tinubu, the Bauchi Governor admitted he had mistaken with expectations that Tinubu will bring the same magic he brought to Lagos.
According to him, Tinubu performed well in Lagos when he had a team comprising of former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Minister Kayode Fayemi.
Bala Mohammed wondered why the duo are not involved in the Tinubu administration, stressing that the President should bring back knowledgeable people and not just those who are ready to give blind praises.
He said: โThe NEC is an advisory body headed by the Vice President. As governors, we can express our views, but often we feel frustrated. What I said wasnโt meant to insult President Tinubu. I respect him greatlyโhe has mentored many people across Nigeria, regardless of state or religion. I had high hopes that when he becomes president he will bring the same magic he brought to Lagos. But I was mistaken. Perhaps heโs overwhelmed or resistant to advice.
โWhen I said his policies arenโt working, I was speaking as an opposition member. We canโt be expected to support him blindly as his party members do. In fact, Iโve shown considerable restraint, as a statesman, by not saying things that could ignite a national crisis. But there are serious issues in his administration-within the oil and gas sector, the lack of real action on insecurity, the surface-level economic policies, the handling of labour issues, and their overall approach to governance.
โThe governmentโs economic policies, particularly around fuel and the welfare of the people, are not working. Iโm saying this modestly-our monetary policies are failing. President Tinubu needs to bring in capable people to work with him, not me specifically, but experts from across the country. Nigerians are suffering from hunger and anger, and good governance means managing peopleโs aspirations and minimising discomfort.
โIf the removal of fuel subsidy was supposed to help, weโre not seeing that. What we need are policies that actually put food on the table. Even if we pay the minimum wage, itโs not enough to bring relief. Thatโs why I called for a review. And maybe heโs trying to review things, but the continued rise in fuel prices suggests otherwise. How can workers afford to commute? How can people buy basic goods like a bag of maize?
โPresident Tinubu needs to show empathy and apply the same skills he used in Lagos on a national level. He had a strong team before-like former Vice President (Yemi) Osinbajo and former Minister (Kayode) Fayemi-where are they now? He should bring back knowledgeable people, not just those who say โranka dedeโ (blind praise). Thatโs what Iโm advocating.โ