Zulum Lists 600 Record Projects At 2023 Reelection Campaign FlagOff, Apologises For Shortcomings

By Abdulkareem Haruna

Babagana Umara Zulum, the 8th democratically elected Governor of Borno state had on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022 asked the people to forgive him for any error he may have committed while overseeing their affairs in the past three and a half years.

Zulum, a University professor-turned-politician sought for absolution while he was announcing his intention to seek reelection in the February 2023 polls.

The Governor who came to power in 2019 said he was not oblivious of the possibility that in the course of his stewardship, he may have stepped on toes ans caused displeasure for some people. To that he asked to be forgiven.

Mr Zulum had however reminded the citizenry of how his administration had been able to bring an appreciable quantum of development that has so far altered the negative narratives about the state and even beyond.

“We all have reasons to be grateful to Allah, and I say this not because we are privileged to be in power, but because we are privileged to be making huge impacts,” he said at the Ramat Square, the venue for the grand rally.

“Oftentimes, when assessments are being made on the successes of our administration, many commentators make references to the facts that we delivered 120 capital projects in our first 100 days, 326 capital projects in our first year, 556 capital projects in our two years, and over 600 clusters of capital projects in our third year.”

However, we should be proud of these capital projects. But for me, our greatest achievement as an APC administration is the fact that today, by Allah’s Grace, Borno is tremendously gaining peace and security.

“Our growing peace is the product of indomitable resilience demonstrated by you, the good people of Borno State, especially those who have suffered loses, injuries and displacements as a result of the Boko Haram crisis.

Victims of the insurgency showed incredible strength and abiding faith, by standing against the insurgents despite their sufferings.

“Our growing peace is the product of sacrifices by our armed forces under theable command of our nation’s dedicated commander-in-chief, President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Our growing peace is the product of sacrifices by our volunteers in the Civilian JTF, Hunters and Vigilantes and those who support and pray for them.

“Our Growing peace is the product of our resolve as an administration to make security our number one priority and it is the product of you, the good people of Borno State, who have stood by us.

“With your support, we have reopened deserted towns in our LGAs and restored civil authorities. We have built and equipped over 200 healthcare centers, upgraded some general hospitals, recruited over 700 medical personnel.

With your support, we have built 24 new mega schools, rehabilitated 108 existing schools, employed close to 1,000 teachers and we will soon employ more, insha’Allah.

“We have invested heavily in our existing state University and commenced academic activities since 2019. We complemented the Federal Government in establishing the first Federal Polytechnic in Borno State. We built Borno’s first flyover, other bridges and dozens of roads.

We are placing Borno on the part of economic recovery and growth, through the restoration of safe agriculture and the consistent provision of economic stimuluses to micro, small and medium business-starters and existing businesses.

We are fighting political thuggery and street begging through outright prohibition, social reforms, social protection and jobs creation.

Above everything else, we have strongly supported the military and other armed forces. We have drastically recruited, equipped and supported more

volunteers into the Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes in our fight against Boko Haram and we have supported families of these volunteers includingwith scholarships for their orphans.

I think I would be right to say that every member and supporter of the APC, should be proud of what we were able to achieve together. We should be proud

that no matter what anyone may politically claim, no one would be right to allege that our administration has failed the good people of Borno State. We have succeeded, and we should say Alhamdulillah!