Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has denied accusations from the Presidency that he threatened President Bola Tinubu over the controversial tax reform bill.

In a statement, Mohammed’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, strongly refuted the claims, calling them a misleading face-saving tactic by the Federal Government.

The Presidency had recently responded to Governor Mohammed’s criticisms of the proposed tax reforms, accusing him of branding the policy as “anti-North” and unfairly attacking President Tinubu’s administration.

However, Gidado argued that Mohammed’s remarks, which highlighted the negative impact of the tax reforms, were purely precautionary and meant to protect the interests of the people.

He stressed that the governor’s concerns regarding the tax reform were rooted in his commitment to safeguarding the welfare of ordinary Nigerians, particularly those in economically disadvantaged states.

He called on the federal government to abandon its “aversion to constructive criticism” and engage in meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders, rather than resorting to selective profiling of critics.