ALIYU STONED IN NIGER, SMUGGLED OUT OF STADIUM

IMMIDIATE past governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu was yesterday booed and stoned at the venue of the handing over ceremony in Minna. Aliyu was at the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium for the transfer of power to his successor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello. The former governor, who arrived at about 10.15 am was booed by the crowd as he walked to the podium.
Shouts of ‘Barawo’, ‘thief’, ‘ole’, ‘change has come’, ‘your time has gone,” filled the air. Aliyu was not able to present his farewell speech as a result of the ensuing pandemonium. Even as he was seated at the pavilion, stones and sachet water were hauled at him. As a result of that, military men from 31 Artillery Brigade were drafted to the stadium in search of those behind the incidence.

ALIYU: I’M GOING ON FOUR YEARS SABBATICAL

Niger state Governor Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has revealed that he will be proceeding on a four-year sabbatical from politics at the end of his tenure as governor on May 29, adding that he will not be visible in the next four years
until 2019 “when I will come back in a big way.”
Aliyu, who lost the bid to clinch the Niger East Senatorial seat, made this known in Minna on Monday while commissioning some projects constructed for the newly established Niger state University of Education and the Niger state College of Education, both in Minna.
He however did not say in what role he will be coming back into the politics of the country in 2019 but he has been a serious advocate of a reorganization of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, which suffered a serious defeat in the general elections held recently in the country.

I’ LL RATHER QUIT POLITICS THAN DEFECT FROM PDP

The Governor of Niger State, Dr Muazu Babngida Aliyu, has stated that politicians now defecting to opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) are hungry politicians, saying that he will rather quit politics than defect to the party.
He told the new executive of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by its Chairman Mallam Mohammed Mohammed and Former Local Government Council Chairmen led by Alhaji Saidu Abubakar, that it was lacking in principle and basic morality for any politician to join a party based on the victory of the party
“I’ll rather resign from politics instead of defecting from PDP. Those defecting from PDP based on the outcome of the presidential and National Assembly elections lack principles of integrity and morality, they are indeed stomach politicians.” Aliyu declared.

IBB CONGRATULATES BUHARI, JONATHAN, CALLS FOR NATIONAL HEALING

Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, on Tuesday, congratulated the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari and the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan.
He felicitated with Buhari for winning the presidential contest and Jonathan for conceding victory to the winner.
In a statement signed by him, Babangida said Buhari’s victory over the sitting president had opened a new vista in Nigeria’s democratic experience.
He likened Buhari’s perseverance and eventual success to the political journey of late American president, Abraham Lincoln.

GOV ALIYU LOSES BID TO GO TO SENATE

Niger state governor Dr.Muazu Babangida Aliyu has lost his bid to go to the Senate on the ticket of the PDP as he was defeated by Barrister David Umar of the APC.
Announcing the results, the Returning Officer for the district, Professor Ali Audu Jiigam, said Aliyu got 46,459 while Umar polled 149,443 votes. .
From the results, Aliyu was roundly defeated in all the wards of the five local government areas of the district officially declared by Independent Nationai Electoral Commission.
Jiigam said the APC candidate polled 49,519 votes in Chanchaga local government area, the council of the governor, who returned 17,209 votes in the area.
Source: Thisday 

I WANT TO SUCCEED JONATHAN IN 2019 – GOV ALIYU

■ Says he’ll mark time in Senate till then
The Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu was a mem¬ber of the group of seven governors (G7), who stormed out of Eagles square during the PDP national convention in August 2013, to register their displeasure against the party for what they perceived as injustice. At the heat of the cri¬sis, five of his colleagues defected to the APC but he refused to move. Why? From all indications, the governor appears to be hanging out with the party with the hope that he will get the ticket to succeed President Goodluck Jonathan in 2019 if the president wins the March 28 presidential election. He actually confirmed this in this interview.
Apart from speaking to a select group of journalists on why he stayed put even when his colleagues defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), the governor also spoke on his fears and suggestions as regards the use of the Per¬manent Voters Card in the coming elections, his relationship with his embattled deputy, Ahmed Ibeto, how Buhari’s presidency will short change the North, his confidence on why the PDP will win the 2015 elections and his readiness to run for the 2019 presidential elections if his people as usual call on him to contest. 

Excerpts:

NIGER GOV. ALIYU SIDELINES DEPUTY, HANDS OVER TO ASSEMBLY SPEAKER

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State on Wednesday side-lined his embattled deputy, Ahmed Ibeto, who defected to an opposition party, and asked the Speaker of House of Assembly, Adamu Usman, to act in his capacity while away to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj.
Mr. Aliyu said in a letter to the speaker that he would be out of the state from February 19 to 26.
“In my absence, the speaker will oversee my schedules as the Acting governor,” he said in the letter.
Mr. Aliyu had moved against the deputy after he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Last week, Mr. Ibeto was reportedly walked out of state cabinet meeting, although the government denied the reports.

ALIYU ORDERS DEPUTY OUT OF COUNCIL MEETING OVER DEFECTION

GOVERNOR Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has ordered his deputy, Ahmed Musa Ibeto, to stop attending the state executive council meetings over his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
It would be recalled that Ibeto defected to APC last month claiming injustice and lack of fair-play in the PDP as his reasons for dumping the party but the state governor in a reaction said despite his deputy’s decision to defect, he (Ibeto) remains his deputy governor until May 29.
But on Wednesday, the relationship took a different dimension when Ibeto was asked during the council meeting to excuse them as matters concerning PDP and the forthcoming elections were to be discussed.

BUHARI TRUNCATED MY POLITICAL AMBITION -ALIYU

Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, on Tuesday accused the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, of truncating his young political ambition in 1983.
Apparently dismissing insinuations that he might be one of the governors who might be in alliance with Buhari, Aliyu stated that he believed in loyalty andwould not leave his party and support someone from another party.
The governor said this in Minna, the Niger State capital.
Aliyu said though Buhari truncated his political ambition then, he had forgiven him,
“Some people are saying some of us have sympathy for Buhari. My political ambition was truncated by Buhari in 1983. My people elected me into the House of Representatives, but the 1983 coup cut it short. I was annoyed but I have forgiven him. It gives me a lot of opportunity to further my studies,” he added.

ALIYU ENDORSES NASKO AS SUCCESSOR IN 2015

Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has endorsed the candidacy of his former Chief of Staff, Alhaji Umar Nasko, to succeed him in 2015, adding that it had always been his wish for someone from his cabinet to succeed him.
Aliyu, who stated this at his residence in Minna on Sunday when he had a meeting with stakeholders from Zone C, comprising Kontagora and Borgu emirates, said they endorsed Nasko for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket in the primaries slated for next month.
Speaking after the meeting, Aliyu said the meeting had unanimously endorsed the aspiration of Nasko for the party’s gubernatorial ticket, adding: “It was consensus for Nasko.”
He said Nasko is his preferred choice among those seeking the ticket and that he had consulted with many stakeholders before the meeting in line with democratic ethos, adding: “I believe we are together on this issue.

FIGHT B’HARAM, EXPOSE THEIR SPONSORS, ALIYU TELLS FG

The Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, has urged the Federal Government to deploy all its weapons to fight the dreaded Boko Haram Islamic sect. He also called on government to expose the sponsors of the sect.
He said this while receiving the 2013 Christian Pilgrimage report at the Government House in Minna on Monday.
He said, “In our belief in God, we do not change any aspect of the Qu’ran for whatever reason. So, anybody who starts fighting in the name of religion is doing so on his own. Jihad simply means to help people with welfare not killing one another. That is why we are very happy with the Federal Government in receiving the assistance that is coming all over.

YOU’RE TOO BLIND TO NOTICE MY ACHIEVEMENTS, ALIYU TELLS APC

Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, has advised the people of the state not to be taken in by the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) criticism of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state.
He said the opposition was too blind to notice the achievements of his administration in the state. Reacting to APC’s criticism of Governor Aliyu’s achievements, the gover nor’s spokesman, Danladi Ndayebo, described the statement by the opposition as malicious and bereft of any shred of sincerity.
Ndayebo said Governor Aliyu has stamped his seal of excellence on all the critical sectors of the state’s economy such as roads, education, agriculture, security, health, housing and infrastructural development.
Source: New Telegraph

WOMAN WHO DIED IN ALIYU’S OFFICE HAD CARDIAC ARREST -DOCTOR

The Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, on Tuesday said Hajiya Belkisu Mahmoud, who slumped in Government House on Monday died of a heart problem after severe coughing.
Recounting the incident in Government House, Aliyu said the woman died half an hour after being rushed to the hospital.
The governor said, “The woman came into my office panting. I thought it was because of the stairs she climbed but she told me that she was sick and had a heart problem.
“She came to lay some complaints on some issues in the state; and as she was speaking, she started coughing. When the coughing did not stop, I sent for an ambulance which took her to the hospital.

SERVE OR DEFECT, ALIYU TELLS PDP MEMBERS

Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu on Tuesday warned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the state who are desperate to win elections in 2015 to either serve the people or defect to alternative political parties.
Aliyu, who said this at Government House, Minna, while signing into law the 2014 appropriation bill of over N98.8bn for 2014, called on the National and state assemblies to regularly scrutinise the MDA’s and Commissioners.
He said, “If you want to win election, you must serve the people and those of you in the PDP, who want to win election by all means without working, should defect to other parties.”

2015: 400 NORTHERNERS BRIBED TO BETRAY REGION, SAYS ALIYU

Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), Dr. Babangida Aliyu, yesterday alleged that 400 prominent northerners have been bribed with a view to returning President Goodluck Jonathan to office in 2015.
He vowed to publicly name those involved in the plot to ‘betray’ the north in 2015 “as soon as we lay our hands on the list of the people”.
The Niger State governor spoke in Minna at the 25th anniversary of the enthronement of Alhaji Umaru Bahago as Emir of Minna.
“We are looking for that list so that we will tell the people of the region that these are the people that want to betray you,” he said.
“We heard a rumour that some people have a list of 400 prominent northerners that they are going to settle and that they are sure if they settle the 400 everything will be okay in 2015.”

ALIYU: I’LL CONTEST 2015 PRESIDENCY IF…

Governor Babangida Aliyu has expressed his readiness to take a shot at the Presidency in 2015, if he the people want him to join the race.
The governor spoke yesterday in Minna, the state capital, when he hosted delegates of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), led by its Chairman, Alhaji Balarabe Musa.
Aliyu said: “I always prepare myself for eventuality. I have never declared for anything. I didn’t declare to be governor; I was called upon. So, if my people call upon me, I won’t hesitate to contest.”
The governor cautioned against political intolerance of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at all levels of government to opposition.
He noted that a one-party state was undemocratic.

PDP CRISIS: AMAECHI, ALIYU, OTHERS SHUN GOVS’ MEETING

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, who is also the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, was among six governors that were not at the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum meeting, which was held in Abuja on Monday night.

Also absent were governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Dr. Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Seidu Dakingari (Kebbi); Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto); Musa Kwakwanso(Kano) and Sulivan Chime).

Eight other governors, who were not at the meeting, sent their deputies unlike the six absentee governors.

Seven governors and an acting governor(Taraba State), were also in attendance.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, was also at the meeting.

SINGLE TERM PACT: JONATHAN’S MEN AFTER ME – GOV ALIYU

Niger State governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has alleged that there is a plot to silence him and pit him against the party.

The governor also alleged that some political gladiators in Abuja have concluded arrangements to print posters with his portrait and a message, “Vote Babangida Aliyu for President”, thereby pitting him against his party which has placed an embargo on campaigns for the presidency.

7 KIDNAPPED FRENCH HOSTAGES APPEAR IN BOKO HARAM VIDEO

A video posted online yesterday apparently showed seven French hostages kidnapped from northern Cameroon, with a masked militant claiming the radical Islamic group Boko Haram from neighbouring Nigeria held them.

The video, posted to YouTube and mentioned on a jihadist website, shows one of two French men reading a statement, with a woman in between them. Four children sit on the ground near them, flanked by two masked militants wearing camouflage uniforms and holding rifles.

JONATHAN SIGNED SINGLE-TERM PACT WITH PDP GOVS — ALIYU • HE DID NOTHING LIKE THAT — PRESIDENCY

The intense power play preceding the 2015 presidential election intensified on Saturday when Governor of Niger State, Babangida claimed that President Goodluck Jonathan entered into an agreement with governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party to serve for a term.

Aliyu, made the claim during an interview with a Kaduna-based radio station, Liberty FM on Saturday morning.

The audio interview was later in the evening uploaded on an online news portal,Saharareporters.

Aliyu in the interview said PDP governors had a single-term pact with Jonathon.

According to the governor, it was on the basis of the said agreement that he and some of his colleagues in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party supported the President in the 2011 presidential election.