By Gbenga Akingbule.
Fomer Borno State Governors, Sen. Maina Maaji Lawan and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff both members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday, thrown their weight behind the second term bid of Governor Babagana Zulum, saying there is need for him to continue the good work for the people of the state.
Gatekeepers News report that the Deputy National Chairman ( North) of the APC, Senator Abubakar Kyari, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt .Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Sen. Mohammed Ali Ndume amongst other party bigwigs all described Governor Zulum as the best thing that has happened to the state in recent years and backed his re-election bid ahead of the 2023 elections .
This was made known at the Ramat Square in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital where residents file out in their numbers to pass a vote of confidence on Governor Zulum stewardship and urged other residents to support his second term bid.
Visibly elated Governor Zulum commeded the former governors, party chieftains and supporters for their endorsement and promised to deliver more dividends of democracy if he secure the second term mandate.
Zulum stated the his over three years administration has brought about human and infrastructural development to different parts of the state but insisted that the “growing peace” in the state is his best achievement and promised to do more if elected for a second term in office.
According to the the governor, there can’t be any meaningful development in the absence of peace, noting that security of lives and property will continue enjoy priority attention if gets re-elected.
“For me, our greatest achievement as an APC administration is the fact that today, by Allah’s Grace, Borno is tremendously gaining peace and security. Our growing peace is the product of indomitable resilience demonstrated by you, the good people of Borno State, especially those who have suffered loses, injuries and displacements as a result of the Boko Haram crisis.
“Victims of the insurgency showed incredible strength and abiding faith, by standing against the insurgents despite their sufferings.Our growing peace is the product of sacrifices by our armed forces under the able command of our nation’s dedicated Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Our growing peace is the product of sacrifices by our volunteers in theCivilian JTF, Hunters and Vigilantes and those who support and pray for them. Our Growing peace is the product our resolve as an administration to make security our number one priority and it is the product of you, the good people of Borno State, who have stood by us.With your support, we have reopened deserted towns in our LGAs and restored civil authorities,” Zulum said.
The Governor maintained that his administration, in its fight against insecurity occasioned by non state actors has given support to the Military and other security agencies to carry out thier assignments .
“We have strongly supported the military and other armed forces. We have drastically recruited, equipped and supported more volunteers into the Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes in our fight against Boko Haram and we have supported families of these volunteers including with scholarships for their orphans.I think I would be right to say that every member and supporter of the APC, should be proud of what we were able to achieve together. We should be proud that no matter what may politically claim.
“No one would be right to allege that our administration has failed the good people of Borno State. Wehave succeeded, and we should say Alhamdulillah!However, while we celebrate our gains, I will like to remind us that there is so much to be done,” the Governor said .
