The outgone governor of Niger state, Abubakar Sani-Bello, on Monday, boycotted the inauguration of his successor, Mr. Umar Bago and his Deputy, Mr. Yakubu Garba at the Trade Fair Complex in Minna.
A former governor of the state, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, however attended the inauguration venue to witness the occasion.
Sani-Bello was reported to have boycotted the inauguration in order to attend the swearing-in of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja.
At the venue of the inauguration, it was announced by Master of Ceremony (MC) that Bello would not be around at the inauguration venue.
Reacting to the absence of the former governor at the inauguration, stakeholders, including Dr. Zubairu Ibrahim, said it was not right for the former governor to be absent at the inauguration of his successor.
“It doesn’t feel good that the former governor is not here, he is supposed to hand over to the successor of his party in the same manner power was handed over to him in 2015.
“Some will think is a flight from the people while some might not attach any meaning to it since he had already handed over to his successors on Sunday,” he said.
Bago has been sworn in as the 6th democratically elected governor of Niger by Justice Halima Ibrahim, Chief Judge of the state.
Bago was born in Minna, Niger on February 22, 1974 to parents of Nupe extraction.
He holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo, in 2023 and a Master’s Degree in Finance at the University of Calabar in 2015.
He is married to Fatima Bago and blessed with three children.
