The Niger State Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Jonathan Vatsa, has stated that the State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has simplified power, leadership and act of governance with rare humility.
Vatsa noted that the style of Bello in engaging the people and removing barriers between him and the people by interacting with them directly at every given opportunity is unprecedented and has made him a profound leader.
He said: “There is no gain saying the fact that any time the Governor is traveling within the state he will stop over at villages to interact with the people directly and even solve their problems.
“Most times he engages the people directly.
“It is therefore not a surprise that such simplified approach has made our dear Governor and the government to always embark on people-oriented projects and programmes
“It is not a secret also that the Governor will always find time in his tight schedule while traveling to attend to any problems he meets on his way.
“He does not allow the callings of the office to be an obstacle against interacting with people directly.”
Vatsa stated that to further show Bello’s modesty and simplicity, with his convoy he will stop at traffic junctions to obey traffic light like any other road user instead of driving through as any other convoy would have done.
According to him: “The way the Governor interacts with his cabinet members and other political office holders in the state, with simplicity is next to none in the anal of the history of Niger State.
“He often travels with his commissioners in a single bus, interacting with them all through the journey.
“We freely seat and eat on the same table with him.
“During meetings he will come to the same place we eat, to eat with us, which we will all agree is rare show of utmost modesty and simplicity.
“The Governor does not give room for any difference in status and office.
“We are indeed lucky to have him as our leader in Niger State.
“He has simplified power, leadership and act of governance, opening windows and doors for transparency, accountability and participatory governance.
“He has the lowest expenditure level for Government House activities in the whole country.
“The records are there to check.
“He does not believe in using government activities as a smokescreen for leakages and profligacy because he is always committed to cutting cost of governance.”
The Commissioner therefore noted that the style of the All Progressives Congress government led by Bello has put an end to raw display of power as witnessed under the previous governments in the state, thereby justifying the “change” that the people overwhelmingly voted for in 2015.
Vatsa reiterated that the change the people of the state voted for is already manifesting in all ramifications of achievements, both tangible and intangible development strides, that has set the state in the path of greatness.