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Africa Live: Criticism as Nigerian state names airport after Tinubu - BBC News Africa Live: Criticism as Nigerian state names airport after Tinubu - BBC News
(32 minutes later)
Nigeria's central Niger state has renamed a newly renovated local airport after President Bola Tinubu, sparking criticism. Chadian junta-appointed Prime Minister Succès Masra has
The state's spokesperson Hajia Binta Mammam said the Minna International Airport was renamed in recognition of the president's development of the state. announced he’ll run for presidency, a week after the leader of the junta,
However, some Nigerians have criticised the move, questioning its economic significance. interim president Mahamat Déby announced his own candidacy.
Mr Tinubu is expected in Minna, the state's capital, on Monday to commission the remodelled airport and flag off an agricultural processing zone. Mr Masra, a former opposition leader, signed a reconciliation
The airport was formerly known as Abubakar Imam International Airport, named after a Nigerian writer and journalist, who pioneered the first Hausa language newspaper in northern Nigeria. deal with Mr Déby after his return from exile, before he was appointed prime
Last year, aviation authorities in the country announced plans to rename 15 federal airports after prominent Nigerians, including former presidents. minister in January.
He
told supporters at a rally on Sunday that he was seeking the top seat so as to unite
the people and "heal hearts".
The
opposition have criticised the move, saying it’s a ploy to give the appearance
of pluralism to an election which Mr Déby is certain to win.
It
is "a farce, a fake candidacy to accompany the head of military
power", Max Kemkoye, the spokesman of a group of opposition parties GCAP,
told the AFP news agency.
Mr
Déby's main rival, opposition leader Yaya Dillo, was killed in a shootout
with security forces on 28 February. The government had blamed him for a deadly attack on the country's security agency, which he denied.
He
was widely predicted to be the main opponent of Mr Déby in the election.
Mr Déby took over as Chad’s leader after his father was killed by rebels after
three decades in power.
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