Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello was on Monday held ‘hostage’ by angry youths, who complained about the hardship in the state.
The governor’s convoy had obeyed a traffic control signal on Bosso Road near the Obasanjo Shopping Centre in Minna when the youths spotted him.
The youths clustered around his vehicle making uncomplimentary remarks about his administration.
At a stage the governor, who was in a metallic black Toyota Prado Sport Utility Vehicle, decided to interract with them.
The youths asked the governor why civil servants in the state were no longer receiving their salaries as and when due, adding that most taps in the state had stopped working since he came into office.
Apparently justifying the policies of his administration, Bello told the youths that the state government was trying to put things right.
He said once the investigation into the financial dealings of the last administration in the state was completed things would move faster.
However, the security officials attached to the governor stopped the discussion and drove the governor off the scene.
It was however learnt that because of the incident the governor’s convoy did not obey the traffic light when driving through the same route two hours later.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Jibrin Ndace, denied Bello was held ‘hostage’.
Ndace said, “At times in a village, the governor will stop to pray with a local community, and also interact with them.”
PUNCH
