An All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain in Niger, Alhaji Abubakar Ma’aji, says Gov. Abubakar Bello has failed to provide the much needed dividends of democracy to the people of the state that voted him into power.

Ma’aji alleged in a statement made available to newsmen in Minna on Wednesday that the Bello led administration had not done much  in the areas of provision of purposeful leadership  that would impact positively on the lives of the people .

” Our Education ,  health and Agriculture sectors as well as infrastructure development, electricity, water supply and youth empowerment have not gotten the desired attention they deserved under this administration,” he said.

Ma’aji ,a former APC governorship aspirant in the state, also said that primary education had been neglected as pupils in the cities and rural areas were receiving lessons on bare floors due  to  lack of basic learning facilities.

He also said that  hospitals across the state lacked the required medical facilities  to meet the health care needs of the people.

However, Mrs Mary  Barje, Director of Press Affairs to Gov. Abubakar Bello,  dismissed Ma’aji’s allegations, saying  the State Government was not prepared to join issues with  any person or group of people .

” Bello’s unprecedented performance plus his unending responses to the yearnings of the people irrespective of political differences is beyond measure.

“Of importance to them is the administration’s commitment to the education sector which they feel has ensured a robust and qualitative leadership and succeeded in repositioning the education sector for optimal growth,” Barje said.

She said that the state government had spent over N4.3 billion on renovation of 5,065 classrooms, constructed 123 blocks of classrooms and 2,096 toilets in some selected schools across the state.

She said the measures were part of the state government’s commitment to provision of conducive atmosphere for learning as well as providing qualitative education for the future generation.

” We have also provided furniture for the use of teaching and non teaching staff in  public schools.

” The Niger government has also spent over N2 billion on procurement of motorcycles for 10,000 primary and junior secondary school teachers to facilitate their movement to hard-to-reach areas in the state.

“The only legacy any responsible government will leave behind for future generation is provision of sound education through the provision of essential learning facilities,” the director said.

“The state government has also procured and distributed 100 tractors  to farmers to boast food production as well as provide  fertilisers and farming implements at subsidised rates.

“The initiative was intended to provide support to farmers toward boosting productivity in the Agricultural sector of the state in line with Gov. Abubakar Bello’s agriculture agenda in the state.

“We are supporting security  agencies  with all the required facilities  in the ongoing fight against banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery in the state.

” We have succeeded in providing modern health  care facilities  for all our health institutions and retrained our personnel  to take care of the health of our people,  “Barje said.

She said the Abubakar Bello administration was fully committed to the implementation of policies and programmes that would enhance the well being of the people   irrespective of political parties differences. (NAN)

-Oct 30, 2019 @18:45 GMT