Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has denied ordering the arrest of anybody, including members of opposition parties or those criticising his administration. Speaking in Maiduguri on Friday, Zulum expressed shock at hearing that some people were arrested for wearing “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts and being linked to his government. He insisted that he was not aware of the arrest until Friday morning.
Zulum stated that his attention was focused on restoring peace and rebuilding Borno after years of Boko Haram insurgency, rather than arresting political opponents. He said he had repeatedly exposed himself to danger to ensure that residents of the state, including members of opposition parties, were protected from Boko Haram attacks and lived in peace.
According to Zulum, only “desperate politicians” would order the arrest of opposition supporters, stressing that he was not one of them. He questioned why he would order the arrest of anyone on political grounds when he was not contesting for any political office in the 2027 elections.
Zulum noted that Borno had remained an APC state since the party came to power in the state, adding that his priority was to restore the state and improve the lives of its people. His administration had invested heavily in restoring peace, resettling internally displaced persons, reconstructing communities destroyed by insurgency, and establishing schools, hospitals, and other public infrastructure.
The governor said the progress recorded in Borno was the result of his administration’s dedication and commitment to rebuilding the state after years of conflict. He described Borno as a state that had made significant strides in recent years, with many of its people now living in peace and enjoying improved living conditions.
Zulum further stated that it was common for some people to make false accusations against political leaders when elections were approaching in an attempt to attract political attention. He asked, “Where were they when we were struggling to see that we had restored peace, resettled IDPs, reconstructed destroyed communities, and established schools and hospitals?”
The governor said some of those now criticising his administration had previously praised its efforts but had started portraying the government negatively as the 2027 elections approached. He added that his reward for the sacrifices and resources invested in rebuilding Borno was from God, and that criticism would not deter him from doing more for the state until the end of his tenure.
Key points
- Zulum denies ordering arrest of opposition supporters
- Governor focuses on rebuilding Borno after Boko Haram insurgency
- Zulum says criticism won't deter him from serving the state
