In less than 48 hours,the people of Borno state, just emerging from a decade long religious uprising will go to poll, just like every state in Nigeria, to elect those who would run the affairs of the state. It’s an herculian task made more difficult because of their peculiar situation. A wrong choice could plunge the state into further crises, while a right choice could put the state on the right track. Nobody realises the enormity of the issue at hand beyond the outgoing helmsman, Governor Kashim Shettima who did a yeoman’s job rebuilding the ruins caused by the fratricidal Boko Haram crisis during his eight years reign.
*Prof Zullum(R) with President Muhammadu Buhari*
According to Governor Shettima shortly the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries which later produced Prof Zullum as the gubernatorial candidate for the state “Because of the situation we found ourselves, considerations for the next Governor of Borno State requires specific quips tailored to our needs for now. 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 destructions of communities.
“Everywhere in the world, post conflict rehabilitation, restoration, reconciliation & resettlement are complex, composite & 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.
*R-L: Gov Shettima, Prof Zullum during a project inspection*
“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, rebuilding of communities and livelihoods.
*Construction of the Yanono Shopping Complex*
“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. Through unusual courage and determination, he is today a Professor of Irrigation Engineering and member of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies.
“My recommendation of Professor Zulum does not, should not and will not stop any aspirant from contesting. I know that it is easy to market Professor Zulum . We shall go 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.
*Prof Zullum (R) during an inspection tour*
Life has not always been easy for the easy-going Professor of Irrigation Engineering at the University of Maiduguri , Babagana Umara Zulum, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress. He was a commercial cab driver from 1984 to 1999.The academician spoke about his humble beginnings in Loskuri village, Mafa local government area of Borno.
“Every day, I trekked for seven kilometers to reach my father’s farm from our home,” he said. “From 1984 to around 1999 (16 years) I became a commercial driver of taxis, particularly Peugeot 404. At some point, I also drove buses carrying passengers to different villages, and neighboring states. At a later time, I drove commercial pickup trucks carrying firewood from forests. While working as commercial driver, I learned how to fix any vehicle I drove.”
Zulum said he become responsible for his own education at class five, narrating how he worked hard to make ends meet. He recalled how he gained admission into Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, in 1986, to study irrigation engineering while living with a relative about eight kilometers from campus.
“I trekked for eight kilometers from Kofa Biyu to Ramat Polytechnic and back whenever I had lectures. But I was already used to long walks all my life, as I couldn’t afford transport to school. Whenever I drove taxis and returned the vehicles to owners, I used what I got for my basic school needs. I later also became a commercial operator of grinding machine, and I owned one in Mafa, and during weekends I went there to serve customers,” he said.
In 2015, Zulum was appointed pioneer Borno commissioner for reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement, which he said was one of the biggest challenges in his life. He said: “Governor Shettima told me in September 2015 that he was trusting me with so much funds for the rebuilding of hundreds of communities destroyed by Boko Haram, and he was worried about the displacement of more than two million people of the state. That appointment was one major challenge, and I took it up ready to die doing it or trying.”
Zulum clinched the APC governorship ticket after beating seven of the 21 contenders that participated in the primary and in another 48 hours, the former cab driver would be governor if the landslide gap his party, the APC gave its closest rival during the last Presidential and National Assembly polls is anything to go by.
Even when everything points to an electoral victory for Professor Zullum and his party,Kashim Shettima, the state governor, now elected Senator, is not resting on his oars.
In 2015, 20 local government areas in Borno held their elections in Maiduguri IDP camps. For instance, all the 10 local government areas in northern Borno held elections in different Maiduguri IDP camps. 10 others like Gwoza, Bama, Askira Uba, Ngala, Dikwa, Kala-Balge etcetera from Borno south and central, all held elections in Maiduguri IDP camps. That accounted for the low 473,000 votes Buhari got then. Moreover, thousands of eligible voters who support Buhari had fled to different states while others took refuge in Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
Now, compared to 2019, the situation is different. For instance, only Abadam and Kukawa local government areas held elections within IDP camps in Maiduguri and the votes were as low as those of 2015. For instance, if you take Abadam which has about 40,000 registered voters or so, Buhari scored only 5,907 votes despite being popular in that local government. The result was similar from Kukawa IDPs.
Significantly, also, majority of Borno’s 27 local government areas held the 2019 elections in their respective headquarters and major towns. This resulted in Buhari’s 841,000 votes which Governor Shettima has vowed to better. Towards achieving this, he has embarked on aggressive campaigns, strategic planning, coordination and mobilization of APC stakeholders in the state.
10 things working in Zullum’s favour
The first thing Governor Shettima reminds voters everywhere is Professor Zulum’s delivery record as the man who executed Borno’s resettlement plan by building more than 30,000 houses across communities in 18 local government areas. In addition, Zulum rebuilt hundreds of schools, dozens of hospitals, local government secretariats, palaces of traditional rulers and police stations. He restored water supply and livelihoods. With Zulum’s execution of Shettima’s goals, displaced persons were resettled in 14 local government areas.
*Prof Zullum delivering a lecture*
The second thing the governor mentions is Zulum’s integrity. In the course of massive rebuilding, the governor approved billions of naira for Zulum but the professor was never associated with any act of dishonesty. The third is Zulum’s prudence. In July, 2016, the Victims Support Fund under General T.Y. Danjuma publicly acknowledged that the fund donated building materials worth N250m for the rebuilding of 24 public establishments that included a General Hospital, schools, local government secretariats, palace, police stations and others in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State. However, Prof. Zulum delivered the 24 projects and used the remaining materials to complete 16 additional projects in Dikwa which were not listed by the VSF.So, 40 projects were rehabilitated due to Zulum’s prudence.
The fourth is Zulum’s courage and fearlessness. Governor Shettima always cites that between 2015 and 2016, Zulum had come under Boko Haram attacks twice while he was traveling from Maiduguri to places like Bama, Gwoza, Ngala, Kukawa, Damasak and others, to coordinate assessments and rebuilding of communities. These threats did not stop the professor from achieving Shettima’s goal of rebuilding communities.
As fifth, the Governor regularly reminds voters of Zulum’s story. Zulum’s struggles resonate with poor citizens. Shettima normally cites that Zulum was a commercial driver for 16 years, he even transported firewood and operated grinding machines. The governor talks about how Zulum struggled to pay his school fees in the midst of difficulties before rising from grass to grace. Shettima believes that Zulum’s story is enough to make him work for the poor because he shared their experiences.
The sixth thing Governor Shettima says is Professor Zulum’s depth of Islamic knowledge, his memorization and understanding of the Holy Qur’an. To the Governor, Islamic knowledge, defines Zulum’s humility, his seventh attribute.
The eight thing Governor Shettima cites is Zulum’s ability to relate with different kinds of people.
As ninth, Governor Shettima cites Professor Zulum’s productive age. Shettima feels that being an under-50 with sound health are conditions needed by a governor to confront the next phase of rebuilding Borno.
The tenth thing is Governor Shettima’s description of Professor Zulum as a workhorse. Zulum is extremely hard working. As we know, there are people who may be honest and knowledgeable but they are very lazy. There are some who may be intelligent and hardworking but are either dishonest or arrogant. Shettima reminds everyone that Zulum combines the rare qualities of being a workaholic, rugged, honest, humble, vast in knowledge, courageous and is passionate about the prosperity of Borno.
- Femi Ige is Managing Director of Centrepiece Media &Communications Ltd., publishers of The State Online &The State Magazine.