Abuja — Niger State governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, yesterday said he did not abuse traditional rules as alleged against him just as he clarified that he only raised issues that could play advisory roles for the emirs.He maintained that because of this misrepresentation by some mischiefmakers in the state, certain individuals are now trying to instigate the emirs against him.

Aliyu, however, noted that if what he said as a kind of advice to traditional institutions amounts to abusing of emirs then he has no apology for anybody.The governor, made his position known while speaking at a ceremony marking the conferment of award of excellence on past top civil servants in the state. He said no amount of intimidation or mischief or misrepresentation will close his mouth to talk about articulate stakeholding.He said, "I did not abuse anybody, but I raised issues. I said the traditional institutions used to be the custodian of our morality. The emir is not supposed to be afraid of anybody. So if he sees anybody who has suddenly become rich, his responsibility is to find out that source of wealth, and not for the emir to encourage that and confer titles on such a person. I said that contributes to immorality.

"If that means abusing emirs, then believe me, I don't have apology for anybody".Earlier, Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, commended President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua for his adherence to the rule of law, saying his (Oshiomhole's) victory and subsequent assumption of office wouldn't have been easy if it happened in the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.He said: "By the time the Court of Appeal finishes its ruling, the Inspector General would have said this is a declarative judgement, we need the interpretation of the AGF. And in-between the mobile policemen around me will be withdrawn and one thing would lead to another."But you can see with Yar'Adua, what the court pronounces, he represents. So, Mr. Niger State governor, I know you and our president come from the same party, so when you see him, tell am Edo people dey thank am o".