By Gbenga Akingbule
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, on Monday, asured that he will focus more on sustaining peace and tranquility that will ensure the rapid development of the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that Zulum also promised to take decisive action on the positive engagement of the youths and prevent all forms of thuggery.
The governor made the disclosure at the pack-full Ramat Square, venue of his second term inauguration in Maiduguri the state capital.
The Deputy Governor of Borno state, Hon Umar Usman Kadafur was earlier sworn-in by the Chief Judge of the state , Hon Justice Kashim Zanna.
According to goverenor Zulum, the biggest achievement of his first term of the last four years was the deliberate policies and programs that brought about the current peace being enjoyed in the state, noting that he’s poised to sustain the peace in his second mandate.
Prof Zulum stated that ” during our second tenure in shaa Allah, we shall sustain the current peace in Borno and shall strengthen our security architecture to completely eliminate all forms of insurgency in the state.
“Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is expected that standing here to begin another term should make me the happiest person in our midst.
“While this could be true, let me add that what makes me the happiest man here is not the commencement of a second term, but the fact that Allah is granting us peace in Borno State, and with that peace, one million fellow citizens are no longer living in IDP camps. They are safely living with their dignity in over 20,000 newly built and rehabilitated resettlement homes and in their ancestral communities which we rebuilt. In a similar vein, we restored civil authority and basic amenities, and re-opened for livelihoods.
“Fellow citizens, nothing makes me happy like visiting and seeing our hitherto displaced brothers and sisters living in their safe communities, trying to decently earn livelihoods.
” I am always happy whenever I visit Baga, Damasak, Kala Balge, Monguno, Gwoza, Bama, Damboa, Askira, Banki, Baga, Gamboru, Dikwa, Ngoshe, Kirawa and all other liberated communities across Borno State.
“I am at my happiest level when I see how life has returned to liberated communities and how our fellow citizens go about their social and economic activities not only during the day but also at night.” Prof Zulum said.
Governor Zulum also revealed that night travel which was hitherto halted due to the insurgency, will soon resume adding that the state government will consolidate on its efforts to sustain the peace in the state.
“We shall open up our rural roads and in shaa Allah will resume Night travels in Borno.” The governor said.
On youth empowerment and ban of all forms of thuggery, the governor vowed to take decisive action to address unruly behaviour by some youths.
Zulum who apologised to his guests over the unruly behaviour of some youths who attempted to disrupt his innaauguration ceremony said adequate measures will be taken to address the problem.
“l wish to on behalf of the people and government of Borno State apologise to our visitors that are here over the unruly behaviour of our youths . We shall address this problem squarely.
“As part of building Borno’s future, we have banned political thuggery and are reforming our youths previously into thuggery. We have drastically reduced street begging by giving conditional cash and other social support to physically challenged persons and other vulnerable citizens.
“We are training thousands of youths on vocational skills. We have built an outstanding Vocational Training Institute in Muna, Mafa and Magumeri and one of them is so far training hundreds of youths on different skills. We have other vocational centres coming to limelight in other parts of the state,” Governor Zulum said.
