Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has commended the people of the North East, particularly in Borno State, for their resilience against the Boko Haram insurgency for the past 13 years.
Zulum stated that the people of Borno State and the rest of the North-East deserved to be among the heroes of Nigeria’s 23 years of sustained democracy, having spent more than half of the democratic years showing “incredible resilience” against insurgencies.
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The governor, who is also the Chairman of the Northeast Governors’ Forum, conveyed this on Sunday in his democracy day message, which was made public by his spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau.
The statement read in part, “It is now 23 uninterrupted years since Nigeria returned to democratic rule back in 1999. In those 23 years, societies across the country have witnessed different levels of progress and challenges. In those 23 years, the people of Borno State and other parts of the northeast, have since July 2009, ceaselessly resisted groups of extremely violent insurgents with the determination to wreak massive havoc on communities, pursuing the ultimate objective of bringing down democratic institutions in Nigeria, and replacing them with violent sovereign doctrines.
“From 2009 to date, which is about 13 years, thousands of our youthful fellow citizens, amongst them women and even old men, have devoted their lives to supporting armed forces in fighting Boko Haram and stopping the insurgents from undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty and our democracy.
“A countless number of these citizens, as members of Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes, have made sacrifices including giving their lives at battlefronts, to protect fellow citizens and to preserve our nation’s sovereignty and democracy. These fallen volunteers alongside those currently on the front lines and all citizens of the northeast eminently qualify to be named amongst the heroes of Nigeria’s 23 years of uninterrupted democracy.
“We will forever be grateful to the volunteers for their sacrifices just as we should regularly remember them in our prayers as we seek an end to the insurgency that is now on the comparative decline. Survivors of our fallen volunteers have earned our help as a matter of obligation to them. We should also sustain our demonstration of love and support to fellow citizens who are still displaced even as the government remains committed to safe and dignified resettlement that is ongoing.”
Zulum added that citizens should always remember officials of the armed forces in prayers as their victory means continued existence for all.
“We are grateful to Mr President, Commander in Chief, Muhammadu Buhari, for his sincere and undivided commitment in the fight against Boko Haram in Borno and the rest of the northeast. The successes recorded are evident in our ongoing safe rebuilding of communities and safe resettlement of over 20 communities so far in Borno State, and I believe, in other parts of the northeast,” Zulum stated.
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