From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna
Drama occurred yesterday at the launching of 38 buses when the General Manager of the Niger state Transport Authority (NSTA) Alhaji Yakubu Sallau was stopped midway of his address by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello for his inability to pronounce the word “His Excellency” after several attempted.
Sallau was speaking after the state commissioner of Transport; Hajiya Ramatu YaraAdua had welcomed the Governor to the event before he got stuck at the two letter words of ‘His Excellency’.
Reports indicated that the governor signaled the Master of Ceremony (MC) at the event, Shaka Adaba to stop the General Manager from further embarrassment and breach of protocol.
Apparently, the Master of Ceremony while acting on the signal from the governor promptly collected the microphone from the General Manager as the audience began to shout “it is enough, it is ok”.
One of the spectator at the event, identified as Ibrahim Bello who spoke with journalists on the mild drama, expressed surprise that the General Manager could not complete reading his speech, explaining that it could be as a result of over excitement.
Reports revealed that the GM Yakubu Sallau who was appointed few months ago was one of the strong supporters of PDP and immediate past Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu hence was familiar with the Chief Servant during observing protocol at events.
In a remark, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello said the buses were procured with a loan facility from a bank adding that the management of NSTA must work assiduously to repay the loan.
He expressed the determination of his administration to provide affordable and safe means of transportation to the people of the state.
Speaking with our correspondent on the drama, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mrs. Mary Noel Barje argued that her principal was not the one that stopped the General Manager at a point of reading the address.
