Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has said he will not investigate his predecessor, former Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, despite claiming to have documents detailing alleged misconduct during the previous administration.
The governor said he deliberately chose peace over political retaliation, insisting that although he has evidence of alleged “shady activities and dirty deals”, he would not be drawn into a fight with his predecessor.
Speaking at the Emir’s Palace in Kagara, Rafi Local Government Area, during a sympathy visit following the communal clash that claimed more than 40 lives, Bago said: “I have all their files. I know exactly what they did during their time in office. Every shady activity and dirty deal is documented.”
He added: “Some people are pushing me to fight the former governor, Abu Sani Bello, but I refuse. What I want for Niger State is peace, nothing but peace.”
Bago’s remarks come amid political tension in the state following the All Progressives Congress, APC, primaries, which triggered the defection of several former political appointees from Bello’s administration, including ex-commissioners, former local government chairmen and councillors.
Recall on Thursday, former Chief of Staff to Bello, Maikil Al-Amin Bmitosahi, led members of the Niger Rescue Movement, NRM, into the African Democratic Congress, ADC, accusing the Bago administration of poor governance and vowing to rescue the state.
Reacting, the governor accused the defectors of pursuing selfish interests and warned they would not succeed in destabilising his administration.
“Some of you left the party purely for selfish interests, but you will not succeed in destabilising this administration. I am the only governor who has chosen to accommodate everybody,” he said.
Bago argued that unlike previous administrations, his government had united political actors who once could not work together.
“In the administrations of the late Abdulkadir Kure, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and Abubakar Sani Bello, some of you could not even sit together or talk to one another. Under my leadership, I have carried everyone along in the spirit of unity, yet a few remain ungrateful,” Bago said.
The governor also denied interfering in the APC senatorial primary involving Bello, insisting that his only interest was maintaining peace in the state.
“I did not even interfere in the senatorial primaries involving Abu Sani. All I desire is lasting peace for Niger State,” he said.
Bago further warned that his administration would not tolerate attempts to create crises within the ruling party or undermine his government.
He also issued a stern warning to social media users against spreading what he described as fake news and malicious propaganda, disclosing that he had directed the Department of State Services, DSS, to investigate and take action against those responsible.
“Enough is enough. We will not allow rumour-mongers and enemies of progress to undermine the peace and development of Niger State,” the governor further stated.
