I didn’t spite my deputy – Niger gov, Aliyu

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THE Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, on Wednesday said that he never spited his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ibeto, as he handed over the administration of the state to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adamu Usman, when he travelled abroad recently.

Governor Aliyu, Niger State, 

Aliyu made the clarification in Minna when he swore in three commissioners into the state Executive Council.

Those sworn in are Alhaji Yussuf Tagwai, Hajia Hassana Adamu and Abbas Bello, to replace those who resigned their positions to contest the primary elections of the PDP in 2014. Tagwai was posted to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, while Bello was put in charge of the Ministry of the Environment. Adamu was to take charge of the Ministry of Women Affairs.

Reacting to the issue for the first time, Aliyu declared that he has had a good working and personal relationships with his deputy.

He said, “In fact, I did not spite the deputy governor as far as I am concerned; he is still the deputy governor.”

Explaining that he had to hand over to the Speaker of the House of Assembly because the deputy governor had written to him that he was to travel for the lesser hajj on the February 19, the same day he was to travel.

According to Aliyu, he saw the deputy governor on the television attending a meeting of the APC where he had defected and assumed that he would leave for the lesser hajj from Abuja.

He added that he had no option than to hand over to the Speaker, as provided for by the 1999 Constitution, as amended, saying that if the Speaker had been unavailable, he would have handed over to the Chief Judge of the state.

He said that his relationship with Ibeto had been very cordial to the extent that it became a point of reference in political circles across the country. Aliyu added that for closeness, he had to bring the Office of the Deputy Governor to the Government House premises, from the Commissioners’ Quarters where it was located.

The governor declared that “constitutionally, he (Ibeto) is still the deputy governor. He will function as the deputy governor till the end of our mandate.”

He challenged politicians, especially political office holders in the state, to help douse the political tension that had built up over the months in the run-up to the general elections. He added that campaigns should be devoid of foul and provocative statements.”

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I didn’t spite my deputy – Niger gov, Aliyu