By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has congratulated former President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Retired General Muhammadu Buhari, on the occasion of his 81st birthday anniversary.
The governor described Buhari, Nigeria’s only leader of recent history, who has been privileged to rule Africa’s most populous country three times as Military Head of State and democratically elected President, as a leader that never shied away from displaying his strong affection for the North East state of Borno and its people and found the occasion of his 81st birthday anniversary to say “thank you” to him.
Governor Zulum saw Buhari’s commitment to tackling the devastating Boko Haram-inflicted insecurity in his pre-government’s situation of North East and other parts of the North as one great achievement of his administration, noting that from his inaugural speech on May 29, 2015 to his actions until he left office on May 29, 2023, Buhari gave undivided attention to fighting Boko Haram to a point of note.
Details of his goodwill message wishing the former President well on his birthday were contained in a statement posted via both official X accounts of Governor of Borno @GovBorno and @ProfZulum titled, “Muhammadu Buhari @81: Borno celebrates a beloved father, by Gov Zulum, the Borno State governor said Buhari has been nothing short of a beloved father to Borno and its good people.
“Throughout his eight years as elected President (2015 to 2023), His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, never for a second, shied away from displaying his strong affection, overwhelming compassion and undiluted empathy for Borno State and its people.
“From his inaugural speech in 2015 to his actions till he left office, @MBuhari gave undivided attention to the fight against Boko Haram in Borno and rest of the northeast, just as he steadily accorded tremendous support towards the rehabilitation of victims, and their resettlement into new homes, sited in different parts of Borno and across the northeast, thousands of which were built and donated by the Federal Government he led.
“@MBuhari made all his humanitarian policies at the Federal level, deliberately in favour of our states’ Government determination to strengthen citizens’ resilience against Boko Haram.
“@MBuhar’s humanitarian policies, programmes and non kinetic counter insurgency measures, seriously undermined Boko Haram’s recruitment efforts and growth in Borno State. That hugely impacted on our security and stability.
“Interpersonally, I have lost count on the number of times @MBuhari visited Borno State during his eight years, whether the visit was to show empathy and build our communal resilience, to support our military, to commission developmental projects, to lay foundation for new projects or to enhance our socio-economic recovery.
“HE @MBuhari has been nothing short of a beloved father to Borno and its good people.
“We today, as we will always do, celebrate a beloved father of Borno State.
“Happy 81st Birthday to HE @MBuhari, GCFR.
“May Allah grant our father many more blissful years and in the best of health, strength, faith and wisdom. Amin thumma amin,” he prayed.
