Ex-minister removed as Wazirin Bauchi for ‘disrespecting’ governor

The Bauchi Emirate Council has removed Alhaji Muhammad Bello Kirfi, as the Wazirin Bauchi, for allegedly ‘ ‘ disrespecting” Governor Bala Mohammed.

The Nation reports that this is the second time that Kirfi, former minister of Special Duties in the Presidency during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s first tenure, is being penalised as the Councillor of the Emirate.

The first was during the tenure of the former Governor Mohammad Abubakar when he was suspended but was subsequently restored by the incumbent governor.

The elder statesman’s removal was contained in a letter dated January 3, 2023, from the Bauchi Emirate Council.

It partly reads “I am directed to refer to a letter received from the Ministry of Local Government Affairs of reference dated December 30, 2022 signed by Alhaji Shehu Mudi Muhammad. The said letter indicated your disloyalty and disrespect to the Governor of the state and the government. It therefore directed for your removal with immediate effort. Given the above, you are hereby removed from office as the Wazirin Bauchi and also a Council Member of Bauchi Emirate”

A source said: “For the past two years, he has not been on good terms with the governor. The governor has also realized that he is working against his re-election and that has cost him his title. You know Alhaji Kirfi is a powerful man in Bauchi whose influence cannot be underestimated.”

In a related development, Kirfi’s daughter and Commissioner of Cooperatives and SMEs Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Bello Kirfi has resigned from her appointment.

Her resignation was contained in a letter addressed to Governor Mohammed.

“I wish to humbly tender my resignation as a member of the Bauchi State Executive Council, and Commissioner Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs Development, Bauchi State with immediate effect. I thank His Excellency the Executive Governor for allowing me to serve my state under your administration,” she wrote.