Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has conceded defeat to the Niger-East Senator elect, Barrister David Umaru who floored him at last Saturday’s National Assembly polls in Niger East while congratulating all those who won the election in the state.
But it seems the animosity between the Senator elect of Niger East district, Barrister Umaru and Governor Aliyu is far from being over as the former has refused to pick calls from Aliyu to congratulate him.
While David Umaru said he was ready to receive any calls from the Governor to congratulate him over his victory, emerging facts have shown that Umaru may have deliberately refused the hand of friendship stretched out to him.
Aliyu disclosed on Wednesday that all his calls and text messages to the Senator Elect to congratulate him have gone unanswered.
“I have already conceded defeat to Barrister David Umaru. I have called Umaru’s number after he was declared about seven times but he did not pick. I sent a text saying ‘this is the Chief Servant calling, please pick’ and I have not received a reply by now.
“I have no qualms about the defeat. I did not see my defeat as an insult to my person but as God’s will.”
Appreciating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for paying attention to details, Aliyu said the electoral body should appreciate the shortcomings in the election and work towards correcting it while he applauded the gentleman approach of President Goodluck Jonathan in congratulating the President-elect on his victory.
“President Jonathan’s approach doused whatever tension have been created. It worked to smoothen whatever rough edge the election would have created. We hope that the transition will be smooth and everyone will see a friendly handover.”
The Governor further said that the defeat of PDP in the state would give the ruling party a chance to reorganize and put its house in order for the next election.
