Gov Bello To Babangida Aliyu: Your Projects Were Inflated, Misplaced

LEADERSHIP - Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has stated that he never accused his predecessor, former Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of not investing in the state, but that majority of the projects were not only inflated but misplaced. He said the projects have no direct impact on the immediate communities, as they were white elephant projects.
The governor in a statement by his media and publicity coordinator, Mr Jide Orintusin, yesterday reacted to the statement of the former governor last week that the incumbent governor was feeding the people of the state with outright lies and cheap sentiments.
Reacting yesterday, the media coordinator in a statement on behalf of the governor said, “Today, most of the so called investments the past administration prides itself of, suffered on arrival”.
According to the governor, “It is on record that some of these projects never took off before Dr. Babangida left office on the 28th May, 2015, especially the well-articulated projects on paper by the portfolio carrying investors that invaded the state during the period under review. Sadly millions of naira of public funds were sunk on the never to take off projects.
“One recalled with regrets the fanfare and the huge budget expended on climbing of Zuma Rock under the disguise of flagging off a tourism project. The failed cable car project linking the rock to the popular Gurara Waterfalls; the half a billion naira burnt on the drawing and feasibility study of the moribund 5-Star Hotel in Minna; the massive Minna City Centre project; the conversion of IBB Specialised Hospital to a world class facility and the over inflated New Minna Township Stadium in Maikunkule to mention but a few.
One then wonders what proof Dr. Babangida requires”.
The statement noted that over the years the governor has tried not to join issues with Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, the immediate past governor of the state on his eight years administration. He said this is because on assumption of office in 2015 the governor chose to draw the line in order to focus on his restoration agenda despite the massive deterioration and decayed system inherited.
Consequently the statement noted that, “It is uncharitable and uncivilised for Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu to have brazenly thrown caution to the winds by arrogantly accusing his successor of feeding the people of the state with outright lies and cheap sentiments, when in the true sense, these are the tools deployed in governing the state during his eight years of administration”.