TheNewsGuru

Tag: Babagana Zulum

  • Maiduguri flood: BUA donates N2bn to victims

    Maiduguri flood: BUA donates N2bn to victims

    The Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, has announced the donation of N2 billion to flood victims in Maiduguri and Jere in Borno State.

    The Executive Director of the group, Kabiru Rabiu, who represented the chairman on a sympathy visit to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, in Maiduguri, said the N2bn donation in cash and food items.

    “Your Excellency, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu has sent a token of N1billion in cash and N1billion in food items. In addition to that, he is donating five trucks of 900 bags of rice, five trucks of 900 bags of bags of flour and five trucks of 4500 cartons of spaghetti.

    Borno flood: Donors have paid N4.4bn into relief account –Zulum
    “Your Excellency, a lot of properties and lives have been lost to this disaster. We pray to God to have mercy on those who lost their lives and their family the fortitude to bear the loss,” he said.

    Responding, Governor Zulum appreciated the business mangul for sympathizing with the state during the difficult time and the huge amount donated to cushion the effect of the disaster. He also promised to utilize the money judiciously.

     

  • Maiduguri Flood: Zulum reveals number of people affected

    Maiduguri Flood: Zulum reveals number of people affected

    Borno State governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum, has said a total of 1 million people were affected by the flood which ravaged the state, on Tuesday.

    The governor disclosed this to newsmen, while distributing cash and cooked food to displaced persons taking refuge in Bukassi camp, Maiduguri.

    He said Health Emergency Committee had been constituted to prevent flood-related epidemics in Maiduguri and Jere city.

    “You can see how water completely flooded the area, sewages were completely flooded, that means waterborne diseases would be transmitted but Insha Allah we should get over it.

    “As of now, we are yet to ascertain the extent of damage, but about one fourth of the entire Maiduguri is flooded with water.

    “The population affected is up to 1 million, what we are doing this morning is to provide immediate succor, which is good and non food items,” he said.

    Zulum explained that a search and rescue team begun operations across affected communities to determine the quantum of loss on lives and property .

    “Data would collated of affected persons, immediately,” he added

    The governor said he received N3 billion flood intervention fund from the Federal Government and it would be put to use in addressing the challenges faced by the flood victims.

     

  • Army told to establish base in Sambisa forest

    Army told to establish base in Sambisa forest

    Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has urged the Nigerian Army to establish a military base in Sambisa Forest, to effectively stem terrorists’ activities.

    He stated this during a courtesy visit by members of the House of Representatives Committee on Army, on Wednesday in Maiduguri.

    The governor also urged the army to establish military base on the shores of Lake Chad and Mandara mountain that continued to be a safe haven for the terrorists.

    “On the issue of completely ending it (insurgency), there’s a need for government to establish a military base in Sambisa, shores of Lake Chad and Mandara hills.”

    He urged the National Assembly to ensure adequate appropriations for weapons to tackle insecurity.

    Zulum also decried the porous borders in Borno and the need to secure the state bordering three countries, to contain movement of small arms fueling insecurity in the north.

    He reiterated commitment to support the military in its kenetic and non-kenetic approach in tackling insurgency, adding that so far about 190,000 repentant Boko Haram members surrendered to the authorities.

    According to Zulum, managing the huge number of repentant Boko Haram members is another crisis that needs stakeholders’ support.

    He said the government had resettled two million out of the over three million displaced persons in the state, and stressed the need for total peace to enable the displaced persons to return to their ancestral homes.

    “The continuous stay of over one million displaced persons in camps is not sustainable, particularly with the rising cases of prostitution and drug abuse”.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Abdullahi Mamudu, said they were in the state as of the oversight function.

    Mamudu lauded Zulum for his commitment and support to the Army and other security agencies and urged him to sustain the tempo for more successes.

  • Oronsaye Report: Zulum urges FG to reconsider merging Army University with NDA

    Oronsaye Report: Zulum urges FG to reconsider merging Army University with NDA

    Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has urged the Federal Government to reconsider merging Army University Biu in Borno with the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna.

    Zulum also urged the government to allow the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM) Ilorin to remain as it is instead of being a department in the Ministry of Agriculture.

    The governor made the call in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Maiduguri.

    He said that the Army University Biu, which is a conventional university, should be allowed to remain so or be handed over to the Ministry of Education to continue in that capacity if the Army is not interested in having a university.

    According to him, the university has been playing a critical role in the education of students in the North East, particularly Borno, where education was seriously affected by over a decade of insurgency.

    “This university is very important to the people of Borno and northeast in general.

    “I am appealing to the President to look into this issue.

    “Secondly, I want to make a case for the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization which has a very important role to play at this material time that FG is looking towards promoting food security.

    “NCAM is the only centre saddled with the responsibility of fabricating agricultural tools and implements in Nigeria,” Zulum said.

    He expressed the hope that a technical committee would be set up to review some of the measures taken.

     

     

     

  • Cultural summit: Shehu of Borno holds grand durbar

    Cultural summit: Shehu of Borno holds grand durbar

    The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, on Sunday, led over 40 District Heads in a grand durbar to mark the end of the maiden Kanem Borno Global Cultural Summit.

    The three-day summit graced by the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, and dignitaries from Chad, Niger, Cameroon, Ghana and Central Africa Republics is designed to showcase the return of peace and unity among the people in the state.

    The theme of the summit is: “Towards achieving sustainable peace, fostering unity and development “.

    The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Amb. Zanna Hassan-Boguma, described the summit as unique privilege for the young ones to know the rich history and culture of the over 1,000-year old Kanem Borno dynasty.

    “Our purpose in this summit is to identify and recommend strategic areas for enhance collaboration among our diverse communities focusing on the advancement of our ideals as a people.

    “Our expected outcomes in this meeting is a strategic action plan outlining the pathway for strengthened partnership and concrete collaborative engagement among our people.

    “The three-day event that started with prayers for peace on Friday at the Shehu’s grand mosque will also provide an opportunity for our leaders, the vast majority of our people and governments to reflect on measures and strategies in the promotion of development, regional integration, stabilisation, peace and security,” he said.

    In their separate remarks, Gov. Babagana Zulum and Hannatu Musawa advocated establishment of Kanem Borno Museum to serve as centre for research and documentation of the cultural heritage on the rich history of Borno.

     

  • Naira scarcity: Zulum directs Govt hospitals to give patients free drugs

    Naira scarcity: Zulum directs Govt hospitals to give patients free drugs

    Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has directed the release of drugs worth N300 million and other medical supplies to government hospitals for free distribution to patients most of whom were facing difficulties in making payments due to scarcity of new and old naira notes.

    The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Prof. Mohammed Arab, made this known while unveiling the drugs in Maiduguri.

    Arab said that the supplies included drugs for prevalent illnesses, maternal delivery kits and other medical essentials.

    The commissioner directed medical directors and principal medical officers of public healthcare centres in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere Local Government to prepare procedural papers to receive their allocations for immediate deployment of the drugs and other supplies.

    Arab said that the drugs must be given free to patients that have no money at hand or those that have problem in accessing their funds to pay their service.

    ”Officials will rely on patients to be honest because as Zulum noted. We know some people may have money and still demand free drugs by pretending they have none.

    ”We cannot refuse trhose in need because of a few dishonest people,” he said.
    Arab on behalf of health workers across the state, thanked Zulum for coming to the aid of patients at a critical period, a move which he described as “humane”.

    Speaking on behalf of other medical directors, the medical director of the State Specialist Hospital, Dr. BabaShehu Mohammed, appreciated the government’s gesture.

    “We feel pained seeing patients unable to pay for diagnoses or buy drugs,” he said.

  • 2023: Tinubu made the wisest choice – Gov Zulum

    2023: Tinubu made the wisest choice – Gov Zulum

    Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has described the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as APC’s Vice Presidential candidate as the wisest choice made by the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed.

    Zulum made this known in a statement he personally signed, the details of which were released through his media office from Maiduguri.

    “Earlier today, I received with the greatest joy, the announcement of my mentor, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima as the Vice Presidential candidate of our party, the APC and insha’Allah, the next Vice President of the Federal Republic under His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our incoming President, Bi’iznillah.

    “It has been my greatest wish that HE Kashim Shettima gets this elevation that he so much deserves as one of Nigeria’s highly patriotic leaders.

    “For me, and I am sure for many leaders and members of the APC, Tinubu’s choice of HE Kashim Shettima is the wisest choice at this point in time.

    “Shettima’s choice is very personal to me and together with our leaders and all stakeholders and members of the APC, we shall campaign vigorously, work day and night, to collectively secure overwhelming victory for the APC in 2023, insha’Allah.

    “Without the slightest doubt, HE Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has chosen a leader who has very deep understanding of our country and its complexities. There is hardly any tribe in any of Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT that Senator Kashim Shettima cannot knowledgeably speak about. He knows the social, cultural, religious, economic and political structure of virtually all the 36 States and the FCT.

    “Shettima is extremely patriotic. He believes so much in the unity of this country and he has proved it on a number of occasions.

    “Shettima’s administration (in which I am honoured to have served as rector and as commissioner) truly reflected the Nigerian configuration.

    “Above everything else, Tinubu has chosen for Nigeria, an incoming Vice President, insha’Allah, with very deep knowledge not only of the Nigerian economy (challenges and prospects) but also of the world.

    “As far back as 2012, Shettima had on many occasions predicted the likelihood of fall in revenue from oil just as he predicted potential fall in the value of naira to dollar, which was why he imported agricultural products worth over N30 billion which today are worth far more, making Borno one of the richest in agricultural machinery.

    “I have more to say on this unique leader but I will reserve them for campaigns.

    “In the meantime, I want to register our profound gratitude to the leader of our party, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, for his political leadership over the years and for supporting Shettima’s choice as our VP candidate.

    “We are grateful to the national executives of the APC and members of the National Working Committee as well as all elders and stakeholders of our party.

    “We are grateful to all Governors of the APC under the sound leadership of my elder brother, His Excellency, Senator Atiku Bagudu.

    “We are grateful to all APC stakeholders in the Northeast for supporting this wise choice.

    “We are grateful to all stakeholders and members of the APC in Borno State for their ceaseless support.

    “We are grateful to the good people of Borno State for their undivided support and prayers.

    “May Allah lead the APC to a third round of groundbreaking victories in 2023, and may that victory serve the best interest of Nigerians in terms of security, massive economic recovery, endless growth and overall development. “Amin thumma amin”

  • Zulum swears in 19 new Commissioners

    Zulum swears in 19 new Commissioners

    Gov.  Babagana Zulum of Borno on Monday swore in 19 new Commissioners.

    The swearing-in comes two months after Zulum dissolved the State Executive Council ahead of the All Progressives Congress primaries.

    The Chief Judge of Borno, Justice Kashim Zanna administered the oath of office on the Commissioners through the representation of a High Court Judge, Justice Fadawu Umaru.

    The event also witnessed the swearing-in of a new permanent secretary, Alhaji Abu Abadam, a senior director at the ministry of water resources.

    The governor urged the new officials to exhibit exemplary leadership and diligence in the running of government affairs.

    He called on them to give him good advice to move the state forward.

    He said all commissioners should form working relationships with their permanent secretaries.

    He said the commissioners should hold regular meetings with stakeholders in their ministries and forward resolutions and recommendations to him through the office of the SSG.

    He urges them to take the lead in promoting punctuality at work reminding them that office hours remained 8 am to 4 pm except on Fridays when work ends at noon.

  • Obi for President, Zulum for Vice President – By Hope Eghagha

    Obi for President, Zulum for Vice President – By Hope Eghagha

    The proper and complete title of my essay is ‘Peter Obi for President, Babagana Zulum for Vice President – a Proposal by an idealist! One of the first responses I received when I published the title online was ‘If wishes were horses, beggars would ride! I can imagine he followed that post with a foxy chuckle. But I know I will chuckle last. We are in desperate times. We need a desperate remedy. We can no longer commit the future of this country to practicing politicians who have turned the theatre of politics into an absurd one! Politics is too serious a business to be left to politicians who often think about the next elections and the views of the imaginary ‘people! Let us give a thought to forming a Government of National Unity using the framework of the 2023 elections, with both parties sheathing their swords for the survival of the country, led by the incumbent President who I believe would like to reunite the country after bombing our cultural diversity with nepotic appointments and body language!

    It is time to think out of the box. We are in an emergency. If Nigeria must survive and grow, if Nigeria must attain its full potential, then we must work on the process of producing leaders. The American model of democracy in terms of the power of the majority always having its way has not worked for us. We are not sure of the veracity of population claims. Population figures have been politicized. For example, to contend and stick to the point that the north has a greater population and must always produce the President of the country is a recipe for a split of the federation. I have other suggestions about constituting the cabinet once my suggested candidates emerge as leaders. Apart from constituting a youthful cabinet, women with a solid background should work as Ministers. I am sure some politicians reading this would say I am crazy. I am not. I am very sane and patriotic!

    Another reaction I received was that the two men are from different political parties. And I said so? Is there any real difference between APC and PDP? The current Chairman of APC was a member of PDP before he decamped. The politicians see the political parties as Special Purpose Vehicles. My proposal is therefore a patriotic extension of that perception. Besides, I had preceded my submission with a potent rider: we are in desperate times; we need desperate solutions. A combination of these two men in the presidency with the hope that Zulum will succeed Obi after eight years will end the unhealthy jostling and bustling currently distorting the national space. To achieve this, we need the cooperation of all stakeholders, acting on the Doctrine of Necessity. At the forefront of this effort should be President Muhammadu Buhari. But because I am almost certain that he will not initiate such a move, I am calling on the Sultan of Sokoto, Ooni of Ife, Obi of Onitsha, Orodje of Okpe, Oba of Benin, Middle Belt Forum, the Etsu Nupe, Arewa Consultative Forum, Afenifere, Ohaeneze Igbo, PANDEF, Chief E.K. Clark, Christian Association of Nigeria, MURIC, and other patriots to summon a national meeting and give this proposal serious thought. Recall that after the June 12 debacle, it was such a consensus that produced two persons of Yoruba extraction that gave way for an Obasanjo Presidency. The denial of the presidency to MKO Abiola and his subsequent death created a big tension in Yorubaland, his own folks who did not massively support him ab initio. We need that type of intervention again. Nigeria is crumbling. Nigeria is bleeding. Nigeria is dying. The politicians who led us into this cesspit cannot redeem us from it!

    In proposing these two men, let me state clearly that I have met Peter Obi only occasionally, twice at state functions and often at the airport where we flew together from Lagos to Asaba or from Asaba to Lagos. He would always stay with us in the open lounge, avoiding the VIP lounge, carrying his bag even as Governor. He would hold discussions with ordinary people anywhere and everywhere. At a state function where he had to wait for the event to start, he sat with his State Commissioners, and they were having discussions there in a circle in the open and he sat there like an ordinary mortal, not specially dressed with the airs of a pompous emperor. Not a tin god! I have not met Zulum in person. I have read about both men and think that they can change the fortunes of the country, if we work out a joint ticket on the platform of PDP, APC having just completed a two-term tenure in office.

    Peter Obi was Governor of Anambra State for eight years. He gave a good account of himself as the Number One Citizen of the state in terms of accountability, projects and the entrenchment of the rules of engagement. He brought decency into governance. He preached and practiced prudence, cutting costs and removing wastes. He has struck a chord with the people of Nigeria, especially the young people across the country. He has a different perspective to governance. He has put himself forward to be President and has made some definite promises about changing the Nigerian story. He has spoken about ‘investing in education and exporting graduates’ and increasing diaspora remittance from $20bn’. Add to these the current clamour in the southern part of the country that the presidency should rotate south, particularly to Southeast, and give the Igbo people a sense of belonging. Let us give Peter Obi a chance.

    Professor Babagana Zulum is incumbent Governor of the troubled State of Borno. In the midst of hunger, poverty, and the highest level of insecurity, he has governed well to the satisfaction of both the ruling party and the opposition in the state. He has concentrated on his job and gained a huge following across the country. He is from the north. To work out an agreement that he should run with Obi in 2023 would be putting two men who have a made a name in the public sphere as good administrators would reduce ethnic tension, guarantee a solid future and promote national cohesion.

    I got responses to the proposal online, ranging from the skeptical to the supportive. Lovely Nyoreme Obodozie asked: ‘Omo! Will they allow this sweet combo? Anthony Ogene wrote: ‘What a fine combination! But can it become a reality? Both are not moneybags and power drunk! Yet another responder Angela Agoawike wrote: ‘Excellent combination for the sake of Nigeria! Aguonye Onyema George summed it up: ‘Government of National Unity. We need it now! Need I say more?
     

    Professor Hope O. Eghagha (BA, Jos; MA; PhD, Lagos) MNAL

    Department of English

    Faculty of Arts

    University of Lagos

    Akoka Lagos

    NIGERIA

  • 2023: Zulum dissolves cabinet

    2023: Zulum dissolves cabinet

    Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has dissolved the state executive council with effect from Thursday (May 5, 2022).

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Administration and General Services, Mr Danjuma Ali, issued in Maiduguri.

    It said: “The Governor has approved with immediate effect the dissolution of members of the State Executive Council.”

    Ali explained that the dissolution was to create enabling environment for interested members of the executive council to legally participate in forthcoming primaries and congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said that Zulum expressed his deepest appreciation to them for their unquantifiable contributions while they held offices and wished them the best of luck in their future endeavours.