Niger ex-gov confirms being under investigation

The former governor of Niger State,  Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has confirmed being under  investigations by the administration of Governor Sani Bello.

He, however, described the probe  as necessary to keep the records straight.

Speaking in Abuja, on Monday, Aliyu said the current governor of the state was doing the needful by instituting the probe, adding that it was not a witch-hunt as many believed.

He described it as a routine exercise for the purpose of balancing records properly.

The former governor also expressed sympathy for his successor, Governor Abu Sani Bello over economic realities which hasd made payment of workers’ salaries difficult.

In his words: “I can understand what my successor is passing through, especially on the issue of payment of salaries.

“When I was finding it difficult to pay workers’ salaries at the close of my administration, not many people saw reasons why  I had to take loans to augment what we got from the Federal Government.

“When my governor said he was finding it difficult to pay salaries, some people misunderstood him. I know he was telling the honest truth.

“The allocation to Niger State has plummeted to N600 million. Niger is a state that depends largely on handouts from the centre and the only option left is to borrow pending when the present economic challenges normalise.

“If my governor fails, it will affect me deeply. Political party affinity is not important once it comes to working towards building a vibrant Niger State. It is, indeed, my duty to pray for him to achieve.”