Niger state governor, Abubakar Sani Bello was in Stamford Bridge on Saturday when Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-0 in an English Premier League match.
Governor Bello had taken to his official Twitter handle before the match to explain why he will be at the game. He stated that Nigerian and Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi plans to start a football academy in Minna and had invited the governor to watch the London derby.
Today, I will be at Stamford Bridge to watch the derby between #CFC and #Arsenal at the invitation of John Obi Mikel pic.twitter.com/Dra18aRekS
— Abubakar Sani Bello (@abusbello) September 19, 2015
Despite that explanation, the governor has been receiving knocks for travelling to go see the game. Some indigenes of Niger state believe such journeys are the reason behind the state’s poor financial state.
“Things are hard for us in Niger while our governor is travelling to watch matches. I heard they said he was invited but is it not government resources that he used to go on the trip?
Mikel is very keen to collaborate with the Niger State Government towards sports development- including starting a football academy in Minna
— Abubakar Sani Bello (@abusbello) September 19, 2015
“We did not vote him in to watch football, we voted him because we want him to work and bring back the lost glory of the state. Watching matches is not governance, it is absolute recklessness,” a trader Moses Akwu told Punch Newspaper.
“Sports development is not what Niger State needs now. We need jobs for our unemployed youths, boost for our economy and agriculture, and good roads,” another Niger resident, Gambo Mohammed said.
Alongside healthcare development, education and agriculture, youth empowerment is a major focus area of our government.
— Abubakar Sani Bello (@abusbello) September 19, 2015
