BY: MUHAMMAD NURA TSAFE, MINNA
Various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, opposition parties, religious leaders, and citizens, have strongly criticized Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State for exploiting poverty and economic hardship by degrading voters through the reckless distribution of public money.
Such actions not only violate the Nigerian Constitution and the CBN Act of 2007 but also contravene financial regulations, according to concerned voices.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullahi Jabi, the North Central Zonal Chairman of Campaign for Democracy and Human Rights Advocacy, condemned the governor’s ignorance of the consequences of his actions, emphasizing the need for maturity and decorum in governance.
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Similarly, Yahaya Ability, the Niger North Zonal chairman of the People Democratic Party (PDP), criticized Governor Bago’s behavior, urging him to prioritize the welfare of citizens over personal popularity.
Alhaji Umar Danladi Abdulhamid, the former Commissioner of Information and Strategy, denounced the governor’s actions as a violation of the constitution, advocating for more responsible and organized ways of distributing public funds.
The incident involving the governor throwing money at citizens, resulting in injuries, sparked further outrage and calls for a more dignified approach to governance and poverty alleviation.
Concerns were raised about the governor’s alleged preference for distributing contracts to cronies while neglecting the genuine needs of the people.
Stakeholders urged Governor Bago to adopt legal and respectful methods of empowering the populace, ensuring their self-reliance and dignity.