Two Commissioners, One Other Quit Bago's Govt
The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has lost two key commissioners and a coordinator to his administration. This development comes after the expiration of a deadline given to political appointees to resign and pursue their political ambitions. The deadline, set by the Secretary to the State Government, was March 23, but the trio of Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hajia Ladidi Rakiya Bawa Bosso, and that of Commerce Industries and Cooperatives, Alhaji Haruna Arafat Abubakar Magaji, and the Coordinator of the Rural Access and Mobility Programme, Ibrahim Dada Bosso, tendered their letters of resignation before the deadline.
The trio plans to contest different political positions under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Alhaji Arafat Abubakar Magaji will try to unseat the People's Democratic Party (PDP) member of the House of Representatives for Suleja-Gurara, Alhaji Tanko Lokoja.
The Niger Tornadoes football club of Minna, which Ibrahim Dada Bosso chaired, is also affected by his resignation. The single House of Representatives seat (Bosso/Paikoro) presently occupied by Alhaji Yussuf Kure is a target for both Dada and Hajia Bawa Bosso.
The mass exodus from Governor Bago's government raises questions about the preparedness of the APC to retain its seats in the 2027 elections. With key figures like Commissioner Hajia Ladidi Rakiya Bawa Bosso and Coordinator Ibrahim Dada Bosso leaving to contest the same seat, it's clear that the party is facing internal competition. This development could have far-reaching implications for the party's chances in the elections, particularly in Niger State. The loss of experienced hands in the government could also affect the delivery of essential services to the people. As the APC scrambles to retain its seats, it remains to be seen whether Governor Bago's government will be able to maintain stability in the face of these challenges.
