Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State faced backlash following a video surfacing online of him tossing naira notes at his supporters.
Bago was observed standing atop a moving vehicle, tossing the notes into the air while his supporters scrambled to catch them.
This action has incensed citizens of the state, civil society groups, opposition parties, and religious leaders.
They condemned his action as “unacceptable,” “wrong,” and “dehumanizing,” alleging that it constituted an abuse of the national currency.
Critics accused him of exploiting the poverty and economic challenges in the state and the country to further demean the people.
Several individuals sustained injuries during similar incidents of Bago’s “naira rain” across the state, heightening the criticism.
They argued that the governor’s behavior contradicted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Central Bank of Nigeria Act regarding the use of the naira.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullahi Jabi, the North Central Zonal Chairman of the Campaign for Democracy, criticized Bago’s actions, warning of potential beggars being created in the state.
Yahaya Ability, the Niger North Zonal chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, also condemned the governor’s behavior, attributing it to the failure of his advisers to provide proper guidance.
Alh. Umar Danladi Abdulhamid, a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, accused Bago of violating the nation’s constitution.
Some residents expressed dismay over the governor’s treatment of the people, emphasizing that they did not elect him to be treated as beggars.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Bologi Ibrahim, were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
