By KEMI KASUMU
Statement by Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Amara Zulum, about the reality on ground concerning state of security in the North East region has been noted and commended by the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This was as Digital and Social Media Aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie, described the ability of the governor to say the truth about the issues as being propelled by spirit of honesty.
Governor Zulum, while addressing theNorthern elders who visited him as delegation of Area Consultative Forum (ACF) in Maiduguri, Borno State capital on Sunday, had said, despite the terrorism challenges in the state, that it cannot be disputed that President Muhammadu Buhari is doing well and has performed far better in the state than any past president.
The DEFENDER had published a comment by Dr. Thomas Uzah, who is Head of Department, Mass Communication, Kwararafa University Wukari, Taraba State, complaining bitterly that the performances of the Muhammadu Buhari administration and its Army have been deliberately underreported by the “South” concentrated Nigerian media.
In the governor’s latest confession, it the don has been vindicated.
Zulum told the Northern elders that, “From statewide statistics on affairs in the 27 local government areas since 2011, the fact is that despite the recent happenings in Borno state, the security situation in Borno state and indeed that of the entire North East Sub-region is still far better under Buhari, and this is based on records.
“For instance, unlike the years before Buhari when a number of local government were no-go-areas, we now have citizens led by our traditional rulers, safely back to Bama, Gwoza, Askira-Uba, Dikwa, Ngala, Monguno, Kukawa, Damboa, Konduga, Mafa, all of which no one could visit not talk of living there.
“Our emirs were all in exile. Today, Bama is coming back to live and so is Askira-Uba, Damboa, Gwoza and others. Live is even returning go Baga. This was impossible before Buhari. In fact was not possible to move few kilometers out of Maiduguri.
“Insurgents were so bold to attack and take over military facilities like the army barrack at Monguno, Bama, Giwa Barrack and Multinational Joint Task Force Headquarters at Baga to mention just a few.
“There were daily attacks bomb blasts in many parts of Maiduguri, the most populated part of the state but all of these have stopped under Buhari. These are the records and no one can dispute these records,” Zulum said.
On her Twitter, Lauretta Onochie, who is National Commissioner-Designate for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), gave a tomb up for Zulum, hashtagging his spirit of truth as “#HoNeStY”.
