Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has expressed anger over allegations of terrorism financing, insisting that the continued persecution of opposition leaders must stop immediately.

“For you to accuse me of terrorism, I’ll not take it,” Mr Mohammed said in a Channels TV interview on Thursday. “Even if I am a terrorist, nobody should question me now; I have immunity like any other person.”

The governor’s statement came after the EFCC filed a criminal charge against his commissioner for finance, Yakubu Adamu, and some other members of his administration over alleged terrorism financing to the tune of $9.7 million.

Mr Mohammed decried the allegations of terrorism against his person, alleging a witch-hunt by FCT minister Nyesom Wike.

“The institutions of government must work because of accountability. My accountant-general was picked and dropped. For over two weeks, my commissioner was arrested and accused of terrorism. And I am a serving governor, and my state is one of the most secure states in the North East even not in Northern Nigeria. 

“Nothing of that has been associated with me. And I know the shenanigans. People given the dog in order to hang it. Opposition leaders like me must be destroyed. Otherwise, there is no reason somebody can associate me with banditry. That my name is mentioned is what really scared me,” he stated.

Asked about why he was bothered about the allegations, the governor added, “I think I need to clear myself at any level. I am bothered because my name and integrity will be destroyed. As a person, mentioning my name itself is what bothered me. I have never been accused of that. Look at my pedigree.”

Mr Mohammed further accused Mr Wike of fuelling the terrorism financing charge against Mr Adamu, alleging the FCT minister was manipulating institutions, bribing officials, selling lands and using his resources to advance his political cause.

“There are people behind it, and I know, and I’m going to mention them today. Somebody said he’s going to put fire in my state; the FCT Minister Wike, and I understand he’s controlling all these institutions, bribing people, selling lands, and using it to carry out his operations. He is a terrorist,” the governor said during the interview.

Meanwhile, Mr Wike denied involvement in Mr Adamu’s prosecution, urging Mr Mohammed to face his challenges and stop dragging him into his problems.

“If you do not have such power, why are you fighting? If you have the power to put out a fire, then go ahead and do it. Face your problem,” the FCT minister stated.