Unless a last-minute development alters the situation, Niger State’s Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba, is reportedly on the verge of tendering his resignation.
As gathered by Naturenex, multiple sources confirmed that over the weekend, Garba started relocating his personal effects from his official residence, fuelling speculation of his imminent departure from office.
An insider familiar with the development disclosed, “As I speak to you, he has substantially moved out his belongings from the official residence to his private residence. He will resign any moment from now.”
It was also reported that a group of traditional rulers visited Garba on Sunday night in a bid to dissuade him from leaving his position. However, whether their intervention has had any influence on his decision remains uncertain at this time.
According to insiders, Garba’s looming resignation has its roots in an ongoing sour relationship between him and Governor Umaru Bago. Sources alleged that the deputy governor has faced repeated sidelining and disrespect from both the governor and his inner circle.
A close source lamented, “In recent times, he was not consulted on many government activities despite being elected on the same ticket with the governor.”
Further aggravating the situation, reports revealed that Garba’s preferred candidate for the forthcoming local government elections was replaced without his knowledge. Despite an agreement among the deputy governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Shiroro Local Government Area endorsing Babangida Kudodo as a consensus candidate, the party’s state headquarters released a different nominee, Isyaku Bawa, allegedly at Governor Bago’s directive.
Sources added that other consensus candidates supported by stakeholders were also swapped without any form of consultation. “Nobody consulted him on anything. He does not have control over any part of the government. The deputy is treated with disrespect despite his huge contributions to the success of the party and loyalty to his principal,” another source revealed.
Additionally, it was alleged that Garba’s official allowances and overhead allocations have been significantly reduced in recent times, further fuelling his dissatisfaction.
Attempts to reach the deputy governor for comments proved unsuccessful as he neither answered calls nor responded to messages sent to him.
Meanwhile, his press secretary, Ummikhultume Abdullahi, dismissed the reports of an impending resignation. She stated, “I am not aware of his plan to quit. He has not relocated from the official residence. I just had a meeting with him at the official residence.”
