By Khalid Idris Doya Bauchi Forum of Gentlemen (BAFOG) has condemned recent allegations linking the chairman of the Senate com...
By Khalid Idris Doya
Bauchi Forum of Gentlemen (BAFOG) has condemned recent allegations linking the chairman of the Senate committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, with wanted bandit kingpin Bello Turji, describing the claims as attempts to sabotage ongoing peace efforts in the country.
Addressing a press conference in Bauchi on Friday, the forum's coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Yakubu Muhid, said BAFOG felt compelled to respond to what it described as a fresh wave of politically engineered falsehoods aimed at tarnishing the Senator's growing popularity and public acceptability.
Ibrahim recalled that this is not the first time such untruthful and politically motivated claims have surfaced, saying
"Then it was championed by no less a person and highly placed figure than the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed. At that time, the Governor alleged that Senator Buba has links with some suspected bandits, but at the end of the day, based on the investigation and findings of the security services in the country, the allegation turned out to be baseless, unsubstantiated and totally untrue," he said.
He criticised the recent report alleging that Senator Buba had ties to Bello Turji and that he demolished a church in Plateau State to build a mosque in its place.
"It is against this background and while recognising Senator Shehu Buba’s right to take any proper and lawful action on the false report by Sahara Reporters linking him with the wanted bandit kingpin Bello Turji and also claiming that he demolished a church in Plateau State and built a masjid in its place.
BAFOG stressed that Senator Shehu Buba's career, political record, and service, particularly his leadership in the Senate Committee on National Security, he does not and could not have any link whatsoever with any criminal element.
Ibrahim further stated that Shehu' contributions, efforts, and sacrifices towards achieving peace and ending the insecurity affecting many parts of Northern Nigeria, a cause he has patriotically championed even before his election to the 10th Senate, deserve commendation, not the condemnation being propagated.
"We therefore restate the fact with emphasis that, false allegations and misleading narratives suggesting any ties between the society and politically discrediting Senator Buba, with the Bandit Turji, or any criminal would again come and pass for the hollow, empty, mischievous, and politically crafted lie," the group said.
On the church demolition claim, the forum described it as "laughable and ignorant of both land laws and the socio-cultural realities of Plateau State."
He added that, "The allegation is totally false, does not have any semblance or iota of truth, and it is yet another example of using religion, given its sensitivity in Nigerian affairs, to drag Senator Buba’s hard-earned reputation into the mud so that a wedge will be put between him and the cordial relationship he enjoys with our Christian counterparts, especially as 2027 draws near.
Ibrahim further said, "As with all other issues, let us seek the truth always and live by it. Those in Plateau state can bear witness to the fact that no muslim no matter how strong he might be can come to the state and demolish a property such as a church and build successfully in its place a mosque."
The group reaffirmed its unwavering support for Senator Buba, praising his concern for the common man and his performance in office, "We join well-meaning citizens, especially from Bauchi South Senatorial District, in passing a vote of confidence in him. He has our prayers, our backing, and our support now and beyond 2027," BAFOG concluded.
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