BY VICTOR IZEKOR
They are both leafiest. It is a case of leafiest handing over to a leafiest. They call each other boss. They attended the same university, being the University of Maiduguri. They are both from Borno Central Senatorial zone.
While one hails from Maiduguri, the other comes from Mafa town. Both are achievement personified and they are risk takers.
They respectively inherited the bane of Boko Haram insurgency as governors. They were at one point or the other university lecturers and they taught in the same University of Maiduguri, their alma mater.
Both were commissioners in different administrations before becoming governors of the same state at different periods. They rode to governorship of the same state in the same political party.
They are both Kanuri by tribe. As governors, they were/are award winners, workaholic determined and result oriented.
One handed over the baton of office to the other having completed two-term tenure of four years. The other is still running the race.
Both the predecessor and successor are well acclaimed for service delivery, despite the security challenges that engulfed Borno State, the epicenter of insurgency.
Writing the article captioned “WHERE DID THIS ZULUM EMERGE FROM”, Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, who accompanied the President to Maiduguri on his recent official visit to Borno State, was in wonderment on the landmarks of achievements recorded by Professor Zulum’s administration in the limited time, despite the serious security imbroglio Borno State is experiencing.
Parts of Adesina’s article read, “President Buhari, who was a military governor of the old Borno State, had very kind words for Zulum when he visited. A man parsimonious with praises, the President said the host was forthright, resilient, and committed to development, despite the security challenges confronting the state.
“The President said the governor takes huge personal risks to promote peace and development, spending nights with the vulnerable and displaced. And I ask again: where did this man emerge from? It’s never done like that here.
“Ask me for one of the ‘poster boys’ for the All Progressive Congress (APC), and I’ll gladly show you Governor Zulum. It takes a heart dedicated to service to build roads, schools, hospitals, mass housing, and many others, that the President commissioned when he visited Borno. And the half has never yet been told.
“With public officers like Zulum, confidence is rekindled in Nigeria. Not everyone is a thief. Not everyone is a plunderer. Muhammadu Buhari, honest, straight as an arrow, is replicating himself in many people. Zulum seems to be one, and it makes one glad.
“If what we see in Borno now happens under the miasma of insecurity, what will then happen when peace and amity returns, which will inexorably happen? Kashim Shettima, the immediate past governor took great strides. He had bequeathed to the state a man taking giant strides. That’s the way it should be. You don’t succeed without a worthy successor.
“Though the endorsement of Professor Zulum by Kashim before the APC governorship primaries in the state raised some dusts by some of the aspirants, rightly or wrongly, but Kashim had his way, while the aspirants have their say
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Throughout his two terms tenure as the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, remained non-predictable with regards to his possible successor. This, he kept to his chest keeping many wondering, tell tales, murmuring and gossip napping. Even few days to the All Progressives Party (APC) governorship primaries in the state, Kashim remained incommunicado on his possible successor.
The situation became more fluid, uncertain and complex when the Daily Trust of September 16, 2018 (Page 43), reported that Borno State APC governorship aspirants spent N425 million on forms. At the last count, over 20 aspirants came up making Borno governorship primaries of APC, the most competitive throughout the nation.
And before the shout of Jack Robinson, came the unexpected bombshell from Governor Kashim Shettima. The statement from the governor titled “Why, I Endorsed Prof. Zulum to succeed me as Borno’s Governor” speaks for itself and even the doubting Thomas understood the implications. Parts of the statement read:
“In the last couple of days, I have come under intense pressure from many stakeholders insisting that I should anoint a successor. In all discussions, I have maintained one divine statement, which is, only Allah gives power to whom He pleases and at the time He pleases. I, Kashim Shettima, am but human, a first amongst equals, I do not and cannot give power. I can only make recommendation based on my own human, but informed analysis. Even at that, my recommendation cannot foreclose the fundamental right of any legitimate aspirant to contest the primary election.
“From the generality of feedbacks, there is no doubt, that what will define political debates in Borno’s 2019 governorship election will be promises in the aftermath of brutal conflict, deaths and destruction of communities.
“Everywhere in the world, post conflict rehabilitation, restoration, reconciliation & resettlement are complex, composite and interwoven.
“With humility and absolute respect for all aspirants, I will like to say, that from overwhelming opinions and feedbacks, the aspirant with an edge in understanding the peace-Development Nexus of Borno’s post conflict future is Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, mni, FNSE.
“As Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement since September 2015, Professor Zulum has been in the thick of our recovery and restoration efforts. He has proved to understand the dynamics. He has established enormous amount of contact in the post conflict development sector and has earned the confidence of local and international stakeholders, Borno needs such confidence in the task of completing our ongoing social and economic recovery of communities and livelihoods.
“For our peculiar situation, Professor Zulum has shown the potentials to take Borno State to the next level. His age is also an advantage.
At 48, Professor Zulum is in his prime, he is head & shoulders above me in terms of intellect, capacity & indefatigability. Zulum is without the slightest doubt, a workhorse! Professor Zulum’s story in the struggles of life will connect with electorates. Professor Zulum fought his way from grass to grace. From a humble beginning he hawked firewood to finance his education. Thought unusual courage and determination, he is today a Professor of Irrigation Engineering and member of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies.
“It is easy to market Professor Zulum before delegates. If we succeed, In-Sha Allah, we shall round Borno State, to remind electorates from Gwoza to Chibok, Bama to Damasak, Konduga to Kaga and all over Borno State. We shall tell electorates to look around their neighborhoods and see how Professor Zulum was able to rebuild their communities from thousands of homes, hundreds of schools to healthcare centres and restored their livelihoods at the risk of being attacked by Boko Haram.
“No one would expect a Professor to become a stooge of any government. Professor Zulum has always been one with his independent mindset. Fortunately, his mindset has proved to be highly progressive and productive. His records as Rector of Ramat Polytechnic in Maiduguri have stood him out as much as what he so much achieved in our ongoing reconstruction and resettlement of internally displace persons and refugees affected by Boko Haram crisis. In choosing Professor Zulum, I know, that I will be remembered for placing Borno above my personal interest.”
This is what informed this article. The vindication of Kashim Shettima for endorsing Professor Zulum as his successor and the aftermath of this.
Though the endorsement of Professor Zulum by Kashim before the APC governorship primaries in the state raised some dusts by some of the aspirants, rightly or wrongly, but Kashim had his way, while the aspirants have their say. The APC governorship primaries nevertheless still took place among the aspirants, but Zulum won. This is now story and has become another past.
The question now is has Zulum justified his endorsement by Kashim? Contemporary issues, incontrovertible evidence on ground with regards achievements of his administration in the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement programme, the mass oriented programme of the state government, youth empowerment and development of infrastructure both economic and social testified to the successes recorded.
More importantly, are unrelenting efforts of the administration in taking back home the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) scattered all over.
Suffice to say that Zulum has justified his endorsement by Kashim. Above all, Zulum’s success is Kashim’s success.
Izekor is a journalist and public affairs analyst and write at victorizekor@gmail.com
