The row between Niger state Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ibeto grew deeper Wednesday when the governor by-passed his deputy to appoint the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Barrister Adamu Usman as the Acting Governor in his absence.
Governor Aliyu who is traveling to Saudi Arabia for ten days directed the Speaker to oversee the affairs of the state while he is away.
The row began since the deputy governor defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and has ever since been having unexpected issues with the governor and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Last week, the governor banned his deputy from attending state executive council meetings stating that he does not trust the deputy governor as he may give confidential information to the opposition.
The directive for the Speaker to oversee the affairs of the state as the acting governor was contained in a letter of notification signed by the Governor to the state assembly notifying the house of his trip to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj.
The letter read, “I wish to inform Mr. Speaker, that I intend to travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform the Lesser Hajj between 19th-26th Febuary, 2015.
“In my absence, the Honourable Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Adamu Usman will over see my schedules as the acting governor.”
No reasons was given why the deputy governor was not directed to oversee the affairs of the state as the acting governor.
