Popular Bauchi-based Islamic cleric Idris Abdulaziz has accused Governor Bala Muhammed of lacking financial prudence, saying the governor lacks a moral standing to criticise President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills.
Governor Muhammed of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party is one of the staunchest critics of the four bills before the National Assembly for consideration.
However, Mr Abdulaziz said the governor cannot criticise the president’s policies because of his alleged reckless spending, citing the budgeting of N400 million for the purchase of six computers by the state government.
The cleric, who has been indisposed for a while due to ill health, said in a trending video that he had been monitoring the debates on the tax reform bills and the feud between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
He accused the governor and some of his colleagues of exploiting the bills and the feud between President Tinubu and the Niger Republic junta to achieve political scores.
Mr Abdulaziz said the governor’s comments on the tax reform bills are political, urging people not to take him seriously.
Mr Muhammed had alleged that the bills were against the interests of northern Nigerian people.
On Wednesday, while receiving a delegation of Islamic clerics led by Sani Jingir on a courtesy visit, Mr Muhammed said the federal government’s policies are not yielding the desired results.
“Take, for instance, the Tax reform policy. Of course, no government can survive without revenue; if, for instance, the sources of its revenue can be blocked, no one can run it.
“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. You are among the few personalities that can approach the president on this issue. You are one of the people that the president listens to,” Mr Mohammed had said.
You are looking for cheap popularity
Reacting to the governor’s remarks, Mr Abdulaziz said: “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.”
Mr Abdulaziz referenced a news article published in the Guardian and Daily Nigerian newspapers that accused the governor of wastefulness and insensitivity on the plight of the commoners by budgeting a humongous amount of money to purchase six laptop computers.
“He budgeted N66 million for each computer, and they are buying six at the cost of N400 million; it’s there in the newspapers,” the cleric said.
“The person who does this will be the one to criticise the federal government policies (Tax reform bills), telling people that he is not on good terms with the president. Your fight with the president is a result of retribution from God.”
