Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has denied giving an order to arrest protesters associated with the 'Tinubu Must Go' slogan in the state. This denial comes after a statement from the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council demanded an explanation over a viral video allegedly showing Zulum ordering the arrest and detention of anyone expressing the slogan.
The ADC campaign council had expressed concern over the reported directive, especially since Zulum had previously denied ordering the arrest of persons wearing 'Tinubu Must Go' T-shirts. The council's Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, challenged Zulum to explain the contents of the video and reconcile them with his earlier denial.
In response, Zulum's spokesman, Dauda Iliya, dismissed the ADC's claims as unprofessional, accusing the campaign council of misrepresenting the governor's remarks. Iliya stated that Zulum never referred to the ADC, the 'Tinubu Must Go' group, or any opposition political organization during a media engagement.
According to Iliya, Zulum made the remarks during a media chat with journalists in Maiduguri, addressing a range of issues including a recent increase in social vices and criminal activities that threaten the peace and stability of Borno. The governor was referring to young men who move around wearing shirts emblazoned with knives and clubs, portraying violence.
Borno has experienced a rise in gangsterism, kidnapping of underage girls, illegal abortions, phone snatching, and other social vices following the Boko Haram insurgency. The state government established an Anti-Vices security outfit to tackle the growing criminal activities, which has led to a sharp decline in social vices and criminal activity in Maiduguri and its environs.
Iliya accused some media organizations of extracting part of Zulum's remarks to create a narrative that portrayed the administration as heavy-handed. He maintained that the governor's comments were focused exclusively on security, peace, and order rather than political opposition.
The governor's aide urged political actors and critics to exercise restraint when commenting on security-related matters in Borno, given the state's experience with more than a decade of insurgency. He stressed that the Zulum administration would not allow Borno's hard-earned peace to be disrupted, arguing that political parties can only campaign and operate effectively in an environment of order and stability.
Key points
- Governor Zulum denies ordering arrest of 'Tinubu Must Go' protesters
- The governor's warning was directed at criminals threatening peace and stability in Borno
- The ADC campaign council had demanded an explanation over a viral video allegedly showing Zulum ordering arrests
