WHEN AN OPPRESSED COMMUNITY PRAYS....

 FOR THE RECORDS: 

WHEN AN OPPRESSED COMMUNITY PRAYS....

By

Bashir Maidugu

Professor Babagana Umara Zulum mni, the Borno State Governor is an honest, committed, very sincere, careful, fearless and completely selfless leader who only cares for the return of peace, stability and progress to his state and indeed the entire North East region and the Nigerian nation.

For those with shortage of memory, this is a Governor who has always led from the front and in the process whose life was attempted and endangered many times...without looking back, scared or discouraged even once. He has stood firm in the face of corruption by certain personnel to ensure that all the markets in Borno are open to business including the Doron Baga fish market, the Banki Border market, the Monguno Central Market, the Yewu Vegetable market etc. He built massive homes and worked for the return of the internally displaced Persons (IDPs) then scattered all over Maiduguri in dignity and respect. He also ensured the return of the farmers to their farms and traders to their businesses and gave them little cash as capital to start with. This is in addition to the timely payment of salaries and complete settlement of pensions. Borno is perhaps the only state not owing a dime in salaries and pensions in Nigeria.  

Because of his Governance style, even the International community were impressed culminating in a recent high profile commendation from the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guteres, who was personally in Maiduguri about a week ago. The consequence of Gov. Zulum's good Governance has resulted in the surrender of thousands of terrorists and insurgents with their arms and ammunition.The Nigerian Army can certify to this. More than 50,000 surrendered terrorists are now in their custody. 

The Governor has complimented Federal Government efforts in ensuring that the logistics problems faced by the security agencies are addressed. For example, between the military and the Civilian JTF, the Borno State Government shared hundreds of vehicles and other equipments to enhance the fight against the insurgents and safety of troops. This is still continuing.

Since he assumed office, Governor Zulum has spent not less than 80% of his time between the forests of Borno and meetings with the security personnel and visits to President Buhari all in his unending quest to bring peace and progress to our dear State. One might say that this is a Governor who hardly sleeps. 

He built massive infrastructures across the state ranging from rural and urban roads, thousands of IDP homes, health-care centres and hospitals, mega schools and hostels, flyover bridges as well as pedestrian bridges in addition to thousands of irrigation equipments, tractors and boreholes to ensure decent livelihood for the traumatised citizens of Borno.

The world should know that Borno is work in Progress and we humbly write to invite Kparooq Kperogi who is comfortably in America to visit our dear state and see things for himself exactly the way the United Nations Secretary General has done instead of getting second hand information from the comfort of his home while in America.....Perhaps he will then apologise to his readers about Borno.

Since the insurgency started in July, 2009, tens of thousands of people have been killed. Every family has lost someone in Borno including myself...... resulting in thousands of orphans and widows, disabled persons, refugees and IDPs. The prayers of these innocent people will never go unanswered by our Creator in Shaa Allah because we believe in Him. 

And by His Grace, Governor (Prof) Babagana Umara Zulum is the person Allah Almighty is using to answer our years of prayers in Borno and we thank Him for this. May Allah help and preserve him and our people. Alhamdulillah. 

May God Bless Nigeria.