The Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, on Tuesday had a closed door meeting with former Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, former Ministers and past leaders of the state.
The meeting, which lasted for over two and half hours, is not unconnected with the new political struggle in the state, which it was learnt has led the governor into begging for the sustenance of the zoning formula to enable him get his second term in office.
It should be recalled that Aliyu is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The forum was alleged to have discussed a soft landing for Aliyu, who is on trail over alleged misappropriation of ecological funds and other moneies meant for the state during his tenure.
It was reliably gathered that the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Barrister Tanko Beji, who is also on trail, had earlier warned party members not to attend the scheduled meeting, saying: “Any PDP members who attends the meeting with Governor Abubakar Sani Bello is on his own.”
Recently, the youths from Zone A, made up largely of Nupes, and Zone B, with Gwaris in the majority, met to align to flush out the present government come 2019.
Consequently, this is the first time in the history of the state for a sitting governor to invite former governors, which included former Military Administrators, ministers from the state and former deputy governors to deliberate on the state’s challenges and the way forward.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting in Minna, former Military Governor of Katsina State, Colonel Yohanna Yahaya Madaki, said: “The meeting deliberated on the issues concerning the state, its economy, Internal Generated Revenue, infrastructure decay and the future of the state.”
Madaki disclosed that they did not discuss political matters, noting that he is not a politician but sympathetic to Niger State politics.
He equally said the security challenges confronting the State are not peculiar to Niger State, adding that several states are worse off.
The meeting had in attendance former Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, General Idris Garba, Colonel Aminu Isah Kontagora, Colonel Yohanna Yahaya Madaki, Prof. Jerry Gana and former Deputy Governor Nuhu Shem Zagbayi.
Others are former Ministers Abubakar Tanko Achitowo (State, Internal Affairs), Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Muye (Finance), Hajiya Asebe Asmau Ahmed (State, Agriculture) and Hajiya Zainab Kuchi (State, Niger Delta).
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