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Convenes emergency stakeholders’ meeting
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Threatens defectors with probe
In what appeared to be a desperate political move, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting with a view to pacifying aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who lost out during the just-concluded party primaries.
The meeting was held at the Government House in Minna and had in attendance a majority of the aspirants who lost out in the consensus arrangements adopted by the party to pick candidates for the forthcoming general elections.
It could be recalled that some aggrieved members, especially National Assembly and State Assembly aspirants of the party who lost out, had met in Abuja last week with a view to taking a position, having expressed dissatisfaction over the outcome of the primaries.
This was followed by the mass defection from the party of former commissioners, former local government chairmen, former councillors and former key political appointees from the immediate past administration in the state.
The latest defection of former top political appointees was led by a former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, Alhaji Maikil Bmitosahi, who accused the governor of running a one-man government.
Worried by the level of defections and disenchantment among party faithful, the governor decided to convene a stakeholders’ meeting, where he openly appealed to the aggrieved aspirants to bury their grievances and continue to rally round the party and the government at all levels to bring about the desired growth and development of the state.
Governor Bago, who commended the aspirants for their understanding and patience, urged them to show support and dedication to the party and contribute their quota to the development of the state.
He said his administration is operating an open-door policy and would accommodate them in several key positions.
The governor reiterated that he would continue to do his best to serve the people of Niger State through his administration’s people-oriented policies and called on all the aspirants to be part of history.
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Nevertheless, the governor warned that those who wanted to leave the party should do so quietly without making noise; otherwise, they would be put where noisemakers belong.
He reminded them that he has files on all the former appointees of the immediate past administration and details of their alleged misconduct but had decided to remain silent to allow peace to reign in the state.
He pointed out that he would follow in the footsteps of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has put noisemakers where they belong, adding that, “I am his son; my father cannot be ruthless and I will be quiet.”
He also called on those using social media platforms negatively against the government to desist from spreading false information.
“They should rather adhere to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act signed into law in 2011 or face the wrath of the law.”
In their separate remarks, the National Vice Chairman (North Central) of the party, Mu’azu Bawa, and the State APC Chairman, Musa Bobi, appreciated the governor for his exemplary leadership style, which they said has taken the party to greater heights.
The representative of the House of Representatives aspirants who lost out in the primary, Hon. Abdulrazak Jakadan Borgu, who spoke on behalf of others, assured the governor that they remain with the party in spirit and soul and would work for the party’s success at the polls.
He reaffirmed their acceptance of the outcome of the APC primaries and pledged their unwavering loyalty to the party, its leadership and their collective commitment to working for the party’s unity and overwhelming victory in the 2027 general elections.
