Borno state that has been the theatre of insurgency in the last 10 years now has a new governor-elect in whom the people of the state appear well pleased. SADIQ ABUBAKAR writes that with the level of encomium being poured on the man, it is expected that his leadership may assuage the level of restiveness in the state.
Destiny is unique and has its way in one life’s struggles that can never be under-estimated. Today, history has been made as Professor Banagana Umara Zulum from a peasant humble background to a university don now becomes the governor of Borno state.
His background
Speaking about himself, he once said, “From my humble background, I trekked seven kilometres daily to school in Mafa town of Mafa local government area of Borno state, Nigeria and covered same distance to help my father, a peasant farmer on his farm.”
He added further, “I personally paid through my secondary education and National Diploma (ND) fees and also sponsored my education.”
According to him, he secured admission into the University of Maiduguri to study Agriculture and since he couldn’t afford the school fees, feeding and accommodation fees, he worked as a taxi driver as well farming to make ends meet.
Prof Zulum, it was gathered, extended his commercial driving trade to Lagos, precisely along Alaba-Rago to raise his tuition fees for his M.Sc programme three weeks after resumption.
Surprisingly, he returned to Maiduguri for his doctorate programme where he moved through the ranks within the university until his appointment as professor in 2014.
It is also interesting to note that as university don, Prof Zulum had more than enough family challenges that he couldn’t even afford to build a personal house of his own. He had all along lived in rented apartments with his families even when he was appointed rector, Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri and subsequently as commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR)), one of the newly-created ministries by Governor Kashim Shettima in his second tenure in office.
Gov Shettima also remarked
Governor Shettima told a gathering in Maiduguri last week that, “One of my attractions to Prof Zulum is the fact that despite being in control of billions of naira for reconstruction of thousands of homes, schools and hospitals, he neither bought a personal house nor a personal car for himself.”
Investigation by Blueprint indicated that Prof Zulum came under attack from Boko Haram insurgents twice, but didn’t stop in his efforts to rebuild substantial parts of the ravaged communities across the state until relief came his way when he emerged as the state APC governorship flag-bearer. That was when the ruling APC in the state bought him a house and car.
According to Zulum, “All offices are temporal as days of democratic offices are numbered before one’s emergence, why the excesses?” he once said.
With these exhibited characters, many within and outside the state express hope that stability and development has entered the state with the victory of the professor.
Abounding testimonies
Adamu Mohammed, an APC stalwart said, “Except politicians will begin to influence his character as a beginner and new comer into the political arena of Borno politics, otherwise the state is good to go. This is the first time Borno state is having a young and energetic governor as a professor with his wife as a Ph.d holder,” he said.
Bakura Modu Kime, an educationist and secondary school teacher said, “We will now begin to have qualitative education, transparent public financial transactions and multiple contracts awards under due process.”
In the opinion of Musa Ahmed, a general contractor/businessman based in Maiduguri, “We may begin to see government contract activities involving suitable and qualified bidders in all the nooks and crannies of the state irrespective of location, ethnicity and religion in a humble manner with outward transparency and accountability unlike awarding contracts without tenders or bidders thereby making it private instead of public for the people.”
Musa added further, “This is when the resources of the state will be available and visible all over the place and also be made to reach every citizen instead of a particular group of people of families. The era of zero kitchen cabinet as exhibited in the Ramat Polytechnic and RRR contracts awards and execution will be enhanced.”
Comrade Titus Annaba, Borno Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) state chairman added his view saying, “It may be the era of civil service getting relevance from the state government towards enhanced work performance as the back bone of any public administration.
“It may also be period of respect for those who have meritoriously served the state at different capacities and retired in peace and harmony to live a better and humble life,” Titus said.
Similarly, the youths and women are not left behind as many expressed hope and relief that youths and women may be empowered with funds or financial support and education/skills acquisition schemes to be self reliant or self employed rather than engaging in political thuggery or touting.
While others congratulated him and expressed hope that during his administration the state will witness permanent peace and tranquility, everyone appears satisfied that the man is the right person for the job.
Audu Baba Adamu, a vigilante hunter and car painter at Songhai area of Maiduguri said, “Our only prayer for the governor-elect is that may God continue to protect and guide him accordingly away from bad friends and I’ll advise him to be careful of who will surround him this time around since he is new in the political system and in seat of power.
“I personally want to advise him to engage the vigilante hunters who have sworn with the Holy Quran to honestly volunteer to work properly in the quest to complement the efforts of the security agencies in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency across the state. He should ensure that he works with them and have enough of the hunters in each of the LGCs of the state fully and properly working as obtained in our neighbouring states of Adamawa and Yobe states,” Audu suggested.
A military personnel who did not want his name in print said, “We are also happy and impressed with the development and emergence of a new governor-elect. Others Nigerians working in Borno state are happy. Yes, we expect a lot of changes from him in many ways as human beings. He may have his own style of leadership and such may not be the same with his predecessor.
“It is normal everywhere not only in Borno. Soja go soja come. And everybody comes with his own style of leadership. But I pray the professor as an educated person will ensure good things happen for everybody to enjoy working with him.
“I have never seen him with my eyes but have been hearing much about him even among my colleagues in the front line that he do visit and care for the security agencies and like working with them as he visits every military formation located within the area he is working.”
