Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has praised the economic reforms and security interventions of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying they have had significant impact in the state.
Mohammed, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), spoke on Monday in Bauchi when he received Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, and Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms.
The governor thanked Tinubu for the federal government’s intervention in tackling insecurity in Bauchi.
“I want to affirm our gratitude to President Tinubu, especially in the area of security. He has just established two battalions, one in Alkaleri and another one in Tafawa Balewa,” he said.
“The people of Bauchi are very proud of him. When we were almost overrun by bandits, nobody was coming to our aid. I went to him and he responded in spite of my being in the opposition.
“He sent a high-powered military contingent under the national security adviser, the military services and all security organisations. They removed all the over 100,000 people who were trying to destroy our peace and today all those who were overrun have returned to their places and have found this farming season.
“We will never forget this. Tell him we will never forget this goodwill he has done to us,” Mohammed said.
He also commended the federal government for health infrastructure completed under the health sector expansion programme in the state.
“Three years ago, this project was flagged off in Bauchi and we are in opposition. After Bauchi, it was Oyo state, also an opposition state. That shows the kind of person and pedigree President Tinubu has,” he said.
Mohammed said opposition governors should acknowledge positive actions by the federal government.
“We don’t always oppose and criticise for the sake of criticising. When we see good things, we say it. The president has done so well in so many aspects, especially in the areas of health and finance, because the states are getting more,” he said.
“We are ready to collaborate with the federal government to ensure that at least we improve the quality of life of our people.”
In his response, Pate said the delegation was in Bauchi to commission newly completed health projects, including a radiodiagnostic centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital.