- * As Security Operatives Lock Out Eze Ndigbo, Journalists From Access To The Swearing in Venue
By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
As part of measures to cushion the effects of the harsh economic realities caused by the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, the Niger state government says it has plans to come up with mobile gas operating vehicles for inter and intra-city services.
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago who disclosed this at the swearing-in of Commissioners and Special Advisers which took place at the Idris Legbo Kutigi international conference centre, Minna, also said that the transport fares would be pocket-friendly.
Governor Bago however pleaded with Nigerlites to be patient with the state government over the hardship faced, stressing that efforts were on by his administration to provide palliatives to mitigate their sufferings.
The welfare of the citizenry, according to Governor Bago, will continue to be accorded prominence in the current dispensation as deliberate step towards improving their living standards for maximum benefits.
Governor Bago challenged the newly sworn-in members of the State Executive Council (SEC), including Commissioners and Special Advisers to maintain close links with their constituencies as measures to ensure that the dividends of democracy reaches out to all.
The era of cabinet members rarely visiting their localities or completely disconnecting from their roots will not be tolerated as the present dispensation expects dividends of democracy to trickle down to the grassroots level through them for the desired positive impact.
He told the newly sworn-in SEC members that they were appointed based on merit of having grassroots reach hence they must strive to justify the confidence reposed on them by the people they are representing in the current dispensation.
Responding on behalf of the Commissioners and Special Advisers, the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Barrister Maurice Bello Magaji, assured the Governor that they will not disappoint him by serving Nigerlites with dignity, respect and humility.
All the newly appointed Commissioners and Special Advisers, Maurice Magaji assured, will remain loyal to the policies and programme of Governor Bago led government and will stop at nothing to ensure that it succeeds.
Meanwhile, the Igbo community leader in Niger state, Eze Pampas Ngozi Wahiwe and his cabinet members were among the guests locked out of the Idris Legbo Kutigi conference centre, venue of the swearing-in of Commissioners and Special Advisers.
Besides, the Igbo community leader, most journalists suffered same fate as they were denied entry by the same security operatives who claimed that they were acting on the ‘order from above’ which mandates them to recognise the ‘admittance card’ and not their professional identification or based on the Media organisation they represent.
While Eze Wahiwe who led the Eze-Igbo in-Council in Minna who arrived the venue before 10: am official time, some journalists who was at the venue for over two hours before the event started were not granted entry into the hall by gun wielding security operatives who insisted that they produce ‘admittance card’, or remain outside.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Newspaper Correspondent reports that, though the security operatives recognised the Igbo leader and his cabinet as part of invited Guests, not having the ‘admittance card’, disqualified him from being allowed into the conference hall in solidarity with one of their own, George Dike, who is the Special Adviser to the governor on Inter-tribal matters. NNL.
