The most commendable eight months of smooth governance in Borno state has sharply defined the seed of political wisdom planted by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, a reason people believe that another Sardauna of the North is in the making.
Even before Zulum takes oath of office as governor, optimism was on the rise in the state, this must have been connected with his outstanding performance in his civil service career to his appointment as commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR) in the past administration, he always listens to verdict of history, with a strong belief that, leaders who misplaced the confidence people reposed in them will sooner or later be part of the mess.
History has it that the North has never had it so good than the time of late Ahmadu Bello the Sardauna of Sokoto and the first and only Northern Premier. Zulum’s political will focuses on essential virtues that are necessary in running a selfless service, which is increasingly regarded as right to which all Borno people are entitled. Zulum administration seeks the endogenous roots of the state challenges rather than relying on mimetic approaches.
This has been glaringly seen when the governor refused to hold his first cabinet retreat at the traditional luxury places, the retreat held at Damasak, the headquarters of Mobbar LGA. Damasak was one of the seats of Boko Haram insurgents and still wears that ugly picture in the eyes of many people, rare visitation has replaced its beautiful image of being one of the Borno’s agro-economic centers before the nefarious activities of Boko Haram when thousands of wealthy farmers, transporters and other citizens were killed and some displaced to various locations.
Out of the governor’s wealth of experience, he changed the outlook of the dreaded Damasak to a land where transformative ideas on how to give the entire Borno people a new face of joy were exchanged between the cabinet members.
However, one of the Zulum’s iconic miracles that remains a reference point to other political leaders was the commissioning of 120 significant projects in different sectors which have touched the lives of Borno people within his first 100 days in office. Surely, his intrinsic quality of leadership has been unveiled.
By extension, how Borno state could be under the complete tenures of the amiable Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum? He bequeathed 25 legacies in the state in just a month.
Hard work is Zulum’s driving force, his journey of success galore lies on how harder he worked his dream right from tender age, he started by tilling his father’s farm which is seven kilo meters away and began to fully take his educational responsibility when he was pursuing his secondary school education, then at Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri, where he studied irrigation engineering. He had to trek for eight kilometers to attend lectures in the polytechnic because he cannot afford transport fare, but the difficult times didn’t affect his mind set to become fulfilled.
This reminds me the story of America’s famous president Abraham Lincoln who was born in log cabin in the forest. He could not afford a lamp and read borrowed books with the light of the fire in the hearth. And yet by dint of hard work, he rose to be the greatest man in his time. “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm” his words.
Suleiman Bello,
Kno
08036831721
suleimanbello642@gmail.com