History is about to be made in Niger State as the governor–elect, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC), will, on May 29, be sworn in by his mother-in-law who is also the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Fati Abubakar.

Bello, a son of a former military governor of old Kano State and businessman, Colonel Sani Bello (rtd) is married to Dr (Mrs) Aminat  Sani Bello,  a medical practitioner  and  a daughter of a former Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar. Justice Abubakar is General Abubakar’s wife.

Section 185. (1) of the 1999 Constitution lists the chief judge of a state first in the order of judicial officers qualified to administer the oath of office on governors.

That section of the constitution reads:  “A person elected to the office of the governor of a state shall not begin to perform the functions until he has declared his assets and liabilities as prescribed in the constitution and has subsequently taken and subscribed the oath of allegiance and oath of office prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this constitution.

“(2) The oath of allegiance and the oath of office shall be administered by the chief judge of the state or Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the state, if any or President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the state, if any, or the person for the time being respectively appointed to exercise the functions of any of those offices in any state.”

The Kontagora, Niger State born business man-cum politician,  had told journalists in Minna at a media parley  shortly after he emerged the gubernatorial candidate of APC that aside the fact that  he grew up in the military barracks, he also attended Military School, Zaria in Kaduna State after which he went to the university.

According to him, “when growing up in the barracks, you established some sorts of bond between yourselves and we were like one family, so we enjoyed the fold. The  supports of the retired Army  Generals in Niger State for my governorship aspiration is  not only an interim support,  but yes I have the support  of the Generals, they have  prayed for me and wished me good luck and that, on its own, is  one of the things one needs in the state.

“When you get blessings from your parents because I see some of them (the Generals) as my parents, then it means all is well. Yes, I have their support, not financially but spiritually.”