Hardship: Niger gov held hostage by angry youths

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, was on Monday held hostage by angry youths who were complained about the hardship in the state.
His convoy had obeyed traffic light on the ever busy Bosso road near the Obasanjo Shopping Centre when some youths spotted him.
Immediately he was sighted and identified as the governor, the irate youths rushed at his vehicle making uncomplimentary remark about the actions of his administration.
It was at this stage that the governor lowered the side glass of his metallic black Prado Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and started talking to them.
The youth, who were more vociferous, said civil servants were no longer receiving their salaries as at when due, adding that most water taps in the state have dried up since Bello came into office.
Apparently justifying the policies of his administration, the governor told the youth that the government was still trying to put things right.
He said once the investigation on the financial dealing of the last administration was completed, things will move faster.
He called on one of the youths perceived as their leader and asked him: ‘Are you a worker, and where do you work?’
The youth answered: ‘I work with the Niger State Water Board. There is no water in town’.
At this stage, securitymen attached to the governor stopped the discussion and the convoy moved off from the scene.
Because of the incident, the governor’s convoy did not obey the traffic light when he returned through the same route after two hours.
When contacted on phone, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Jibrin Ndace, denied that the governor was held hostage but that “it is the practice of my principal to stop anywhere there was a crowd to get the people’s feelings.
“At times in a village, the governor will stop and say the prayers with the local community and also interact with them”.