My defeat not an insult - Niger governor

Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, on Wednesday conceded defeat to the Niger-East Senator-elect, David Umaru, at last Saturday’s National Assembly polls in Niger East.

Aliyu, who spoke to newsmen in Minna, said he had been calling the Senator-elect to congratulate him but his calls and text messages had gone unanswered.



“I have already conceded defeat to Barrister David Umaru. I have called Umaru’s number about seven times after he was declared the winner but he did not pick my calls. 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 for paying attention to details, Aliyu said the electoral body should appreciate its shortcomings in the last Saturday’s elections and work towards correcting them.

He also applauded the gentlemanly approach of President Goodluck Jonathan in congratulating the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammedu Buhari adding that his action doused whatever tension that was on ground during the collation of the results.

“President Jonathan’s approach doused whatever tension has been created. It worked to smoothen whatever rough edge the elections 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 the PDP in the state would give the ruling party a chance to reorganise and put its house in order for the next elections.