allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Boat Mishap - I Am Ready to Pay the Supreme Price

Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State who narrowly escaped death last week has maintained that he won't mind laying down his life only if that would make the state attain the height of progress it deserves.

Aliyu despite advice against that by his security insisted on embarking in crossing River Rakumi in Bangi, Mariga Local Government Area and escaped death by the whiskers when the boat conveying one of his special advisers, a legislator and a popular politician capsized leading to the loss of lives. The boat was allegedly attacked when he was returning from inaugurating a health facility on Thursday, August 28 in Bongi.

The governor told Weekly Trust that when members of his delegation arrived at the point where the bridge had collapsed, some people suggested that they should turn back. But the governor insisted to undertake the journey in order to experience what the rural people are feeling. He said that was why they decided to travel by the river.

"What is the essence of leadership if we get to this point and turn back? What have we proved to this people who gave us their mandate? We are servants of the people not their masters, so whatever the people feel, we should also feel so that we will know how best to quickly address their problems." Aliyu said.

Aliyu maintained that the state itself was bigger than one man and to lead a state like Niger, one must be able to face the Herculean challenges including laying down life if that will bring peace and progress to the common citizens of Niger.

"I appeal to all Nigerlites to consider this as an act of Allah. Certainly, nothing can stop us from taking the dividends of democracy to the length and breadth of Niger. We shall continue to do everything within our reach to get the best for the state including taking supreme sacrifice if we need to," he said.

Governor Aliyu, who said his primary motive of going to Bangi was to fulfil an earlier promise made to the people and to use the Jama'a Forum to get more of what the government should do, also said he did not bargain for the loss of a lawmaker Usman Bahago Nasko, 62, representing Nasko in Magama Local Government who is the Chairman, House Committee on Health; Aliyu's principal private secretary, Barrister Datti Muazu, 45, and a prominent politician from Lapai, Alhaji Isah Lapai, all on his entourage.

Two other top government officials, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr Peter Saleh Sarki who could be described as a cat with nine lives as he also survived an auto crash while on his way to Banji same day and Commissioner for Infrastructure and Rural Development, Alhaji Sani Ndanusa were also in the ill-fated canoe which capsized leading to the death of the three officials.

Weekly Trust learnt that the timely intervention of local divers reduced the death toll. Eye witness said the water was calm at the time the boat capsized. One of the survivors told Weekly Trust that there was no storm and the canoe did not hit any rock neither was it overloaded, confirming that they were only six in the canoe including the canoe paddlers.

Dr. Sarki, one of the survivors, narrated how it all happened. "We were all sitting in the canoe discussing, there was neither wind nor was the canoe over-loaded. All we noticed was the canoe in which we were being conveyed to the bank of the river had capsized and we all were struggling to survive.

"I and the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Rural development were later rescued by some local divers around while three others were not as lucky as they lost their lives and their bodies were not recovered until the next day," he said.

The lawmaker's body was said to have been the first to be recovered from the river on Friday morning while two remaining bodies were missing for nearly 24 hours.

It took the combined effort of local divers and the head of divers (Sarkin Ruwa) from Agwara to remove the trapped bodies of the remaining two.

Narrating what happened at the bank of the river when the bodies of the governor's PPs and Lapai were recovered, the Director General, Media and Publicity to the governor, Abdulkadir said it was a bitter experience.

"When the last two bodies were recovered, it was as if that was when reality downed on us that they were really dead. It was so painful that we could hardly hold back tears despite being men," he said.

One of the relations of Barrister Muazu who saw the deceased before he travelled with the governor, said there was nothing about him to indicate he was soon to die as he was as lively as he could be. He said the deceased was the eldest son in the family who had been their bread winner. It was also an issue of lamentation for the family of the lawmaker who left behind two wives and children.

The Niger State Police Command has swung into action to unravel the mystery behind the incident. Speculations are rife that the canoe was turned over by the villagers who are not happy with Aliyu Bangi, who is the member representing them at the House of Assembly (ANPP).

The canoe boy paddling the boat said his paddle had struck a hand beneath the boat, adding that before he could determine what was amiss, the boat had already capsized.

Aliyu, in an address to the people of the state, called on the state House of Assembly members to use the loss of one of them to do a sober reflection and search their conscience to see if they truly represent their people.

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