Bala-Wike Feud: Dogara is a Serial Opportunist and Liar, Twisting Facts – Ex-Bauchi PDP Chairman

Former Bauchi State PDP Chairman, Alhaji Hamza Koshe Akuyam, has accused former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, of distorting facts and spreading falsehoods regarding the political influence of Nyesom Wike in the 2019 Bauchi governorship election.

In a statement titled Bala Vs. Wike: Because I Am Involved, issued on Monday, Akuyam dismissed Dogara’s claims that Wike manipulated the PDP primaries to secure victory for Governor Bala Mohammed. He described Dogara’s allegations as an attempt to rewrite history for personal political gain.

Dogara had earlier alleged that Wike influenced the appointment of Chief Dan Orbih to oversee Bauchi’s 2018 PDP primaries, ensuring Bala Mohammed’s emergence as the party’s candidate. However, Akuyam refuted this, stating that while Wike was a stakeholder, Bala Mohammed had already built strong political capital within the PDP before the primaries. He insisted that Dogara’s portrayal of Bala Mohammed as politically weak was baseless, challenging him to present evidence to support his claims.

Akuyam went further to criticize Dogara’s political standing, arguing that he had exaggerated his influence while failing to secure the APC governorship ticket in 2019. He recalled that when Dogara was sidelined by the APC, it was Bala Mohammed and the PDP that provided him with a political platform. He described it as ironic that Dogara, who was once politically stranded, was now attacking the very person who had helped him.

Addressing Dogara’s claim that Bala Mohammed betrayed former Wazirin Bauchi, Alhaji Bello Kirfi, Akuyam countered that Kirfi was never a PDP member but was consulted due to his political influence. He added that instead of betraying Kirfi, Bala Mohammed actually facilitated his reconciliation with the Emir of Bauchi after a previous suspension.

Akuyam framed the ongoing rift between Governor Bala Mohammed and Nyesom Wike as a contest between constitutional order and personal loyalty. He argued that Bala Mohammed’s position was about upholding institutional integrity rather than serving personal interests, stating that history would judge those who prioritized individuals over strong institutions.

He also labeled Dogara a “serial opportunist” who only aligns with political figures when it serves his financial interests. He criticized Dogara’s silence on national issues, suggesting that his loyalty was tied to personal gain. Akuyam expressed disappointment that someone who rose to political prominence at a young age had, in his view, wasted his potential on self-interest and inconsistency.