Mohammed Bago, the Governor of Niger State, has provided insight into the motive behind the renaming of the Abubakar Imam International Airport, now dedicated to President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, the decision to rename was driven by the aim of matching roles with individuals, emphasizing that dedicating the State Polytechnic Zungeru to the late literary luminary, Abubakar Imam, was a more fitting choice.
Bago made a eleventh-hour choice to alter the airport’s name, previously bestowed upon Imam in June last year, to Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, immediately after its inauguration on Monday.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, disclosed this on Tuesday in an official statement, quoting Bago’s announcement during a live interview on TVC News at 10 on Monday.
In an attempt to calm the sentiments of Niger citizens, the Governor announced the renaming of the State Polytechnic Zungeru after the late literary luminary, Abubakar Imam, affirming, “It’s about placing the right person in the right position.”
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Bago who explained the naming of the Polytechnic after Imam said the action was “simply to put a square peg in a square hole”.
Ibrahim pointed out that the Governor reiterated the remarkable contributions of the celebrated Hausa author to both the State and the broader northern Nigeria, stressing that naming educational institutions after the Literary Icon was the ideal course of action.
Speaking on the renaming of the Airport after Bola Ahmed Tinubu, less than a year after it was named the Abubakar Imam Kagara International Airport, Bago said, “It is in appreciation of the President, for approving the State to establish the first special Airport Agro-Processing Free Zone in Nigeria and his immense contributions to nation building.
“The State Government under my leadership has been enjoying tremendous support from the Tinubu-led government and the President is an astute politician and a great leader that should be celebrated”.
The Governor revealed that the decision to rename the Airport was reached after consulting with relevant stakeholders, such as members of the State Executive Council, and obtaining the President’s approval.