Concern in Niger State as Governor and Top Officials Embark on Hajj Pilgrimage.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, along with Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba, Speaker Barrister Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, and other top government officials, have embarked on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, igniting significant concern and criticism among the state’s residents.
Reports indicate that numerous commissioners and lawmakers have also joined the governor for the religious ritual. Sources reveal that the governor departed on Monday, taking approximately half of his cabinet members with him on a chartered plane.
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This trip comes at a critical time for Niger State, which is currently grappling with the aftermath of a mining pit accident and ongoing security challenges. The governor’s decision to travel without formally transmitting power to his deputy has raised questions about a potential constitutional crisis. According to Section 190 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, the deputy governor is supposed to act as governor whenever the governor is unable to discharge his duties.
Critics argue that the governor’s trip represents an “abuse of democracy” and a “betrayal of trust,” particularly given the state’s current challenges.
Since the governor’s departure, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman, has been performing official government functions. Nevertheless, political leaders and civil society groups have condemned the governor’s decision, asserting that it is inappropriate for key state officers to abandon the state without adhering to constitutional protocols for power transmission.
Dr Mohammed Alada, a former Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Ilorin, weighed in on the issue, stating, “With such development, governance will be at a standstill because the Constitution envisages where any of the three of them will take charge if such a situation comes up. The essence of that is to ensure continuity of governance and avoid a vacuum.”
Dr Alada further explained, “There is a limit to the extent the deputy speaker can go. In fact, the Constitution did not make any provision for that office; they cannot be ruling from wherever they are; someone must be fully in charge.”
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Reflecting on historical precedents, Dr Alada mentioned, “When former President Yar’Adua died, Jonathan, who was formally acting, was sworn in as the substantive president. That is the kind of situation envisaged by the Constitution. God forbid, in a situation where the three of them did not return to the state, what will happen? It means it will be drifting without any definite direction.”
Attempts to contact the Secretary to the State Government for comments were unsuccessful. However, when the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, was reached by phone, he responded curtly, “Go and write anything you want to write. No problem,” before ending the call.
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