The Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubarkar Sani Bello, was on Wednesday, August 17, 2016, shunned by the former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, when the former visited the hilltop mansion of Babangida to felicitate with him on his 75th birthday.
Governor Bello, according to sources, arrived when the event had ended and therefore was not allowed to see the retired general.
It was also said that dignitaries such as the governor’s in-law and the former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubarkar; Babangida’s right hand man, General Halilu Akilu, were on ground between 11am and 2pm when the event ended, while the governor did not show up after several announcements that he was coming.
However, Governor Bello and his entourage arrived at about 3:50pm and were coldly received by Babangida’s eldest daughter, Aisha, who told the governor that the celebrant was resting and could not see any other visitor.
Though the celebration, which started at exactly 11am was low-keyed, it was well attended by people.
Besides, Aisha Babangida, who did not hide her displeasure over the governor’s lateness was said to have politely asked journalists who had gathered to interview the governor to do it outside the waiting room to avoid disturbing the household, which had retired after the event. Bello however spent less than an hour and he was later escorted out of the house by the eldest son of IBB, Mohammed Babangida.
Reacting to the cold treatment meted out to Governor Bello, the former Press Secretary to the former Governor Abdulkadir Kure, Mahmoud Abdullahi, who is one of the personal aides to Babangida, said that they waited for the governor but he did not come as at the time other guests were present.
Mahmoud said, “His Excellency had gone in to rest when the governor came at about 4pm. The event started at 11am and they kept telling us that he was coming but when we finished at about 2pm he was still not there.
“All the guests were present, including the former Military President General Abdulsalami Abubarkar, General Halilu Akilu and others. We all waited till 2:30pm when the governor’s aides said he would come but he didn’t show up and they all left”, Mahmoud said, adding that it was not the fault of IBBs or that of his family members.
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