The ongoing grand conspiracy and desperation to de-construct and indeed, de-mystify the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum by his detractors garbed in whichever attire, is to say the least for a hidden agenda against giant strides, personality and the people of Borno State tailored to the murder of facts that are sacrosanct which remains laughable, fruitless, infantile and ridiculous.
A discourse authored by one Charles Ibekwe published by Blueprint Newspaper of December 25, 2020 made an interesting reading for exposing an ongoing conspiracy theory against the reputation of the most vibrant governor in Nigeria today, Prof. Zulum, who through glaring concern to the plight of his people, under siege by insurgents, won the hearts of Nigerians that remain worrisome to his detractors.
Ideally, the sponsored publication could have been challenged head-on, but sensitive issues should not be joined with hired agents on sponsorship of the expired whose main concern for now is to mess-up the reputation of an accomplished scholar, a technocrat, revered politician and committed leader on a mission to change the narrative and catapult the socio-economic development of Borno State to a higher pedestal devoid of security challenges no matter whose ox is gored for posterity.
In a clear case of madness and urge to twist facts for whatever reason not far from ridicule, humiliation and intimidation as the trademark of those behind the crime speaks, the directionless jobbers managed by hidden masquerades, supposedly a coalition on a wild goose chase, had the audacity to display gross mischief and crass ignorance against the efforts of a caring and fearless governor who calls a sped a sped and goes home to sleep for exposing extortion and corrupt practices that are some of the bane of the security challenges bedeviling Borno and other parts of Nigeria.
Since the news of the allegation of extortion, humiliation and ineptitude against some soldiers serving in Borno State was made public, several publications laced with blatant lies in some compromised online and conventional newspapers made it a duty to debunk those allegations without facts but pedestrian support to the obnoxious trade.
The unfortunate and mendacious expressed opinion against the efforts and outcries of Governor Zulum were carefully concocted to suit a selfish reason to fatten the mischief targeted at the people of Borno State who mandated him to govern and serve with passion without fear or favor. For the records, it will be an honor to an act of blackmail to reply the sponsored published mischief. But for the benefit of the reading public, few words are enough to strengthen the records.
The Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum has never displayed pretence in his style of governance to have subjected him to the bashings he received. As a knowledgeable Muslim, he knows what is expected of him as a leader and the consequences of compromised failure in leadership.
It may not be wrong to clear some doubts in the confused minds of mischief makers that the Professor Zulum model of governance is anchored on courage typical of a Kanuri, transparency, probity and service with passion including exposing lapses of those charged with the onerous task of securing Borno State from the murderous insurgents. He has never for once demanded for publicity of his actions which are for God. It is the duty of his media handlers to do the needful as part of their responsibilities for posterity to judge. Therefore, if any person or group that takes offence from the passionate leadership style of the erudite scholar, there is no apology for that and the Professor cannot be discouraged from the path of honor he has taken for the good of Borno State no matter what.
Despite the holistic efforts to change the narrative for a secured Borno State, jobbers and political turncoats that prefer to live in a world of illusion should understand the simple fact that if not for the failure of successive governments at the centre to have served with all honesty remnant of which still remains, Prof. Zulum or his predecessor, Sen. Kasheem Shettima couldn’t have ventured into any rescue mission to rescue their embattled Borno State from security challenges and underdevelopment.
Those who called the shots and caged former leaders from accessing the realities of the insurgency, hid under the canopy of service and politics to jubilate failure of their prey, former president Jonathan which President Buhari should try to realize and do the needful at this most trying period.
Again, if not for the people’s prayers for salvation and support to Prof. Zulum, perhaps by now Borno State’s ship might have capsized into the vast ocean of socio-economic violence created by those detractors operating under different guises within and outside the state and now in desperation to smear the reputation of an illustrious son they envy to hate for courageously stating the obvious for public knowledge.
Despite that, today, those desperados have diverted from debunking facts to watering mischief by hiring idlers to do their bidding for crumbs. What they intend to achieve with those baseless attacks on the Professor remains a mystery to decent minds. What we all expect from them are facts not fiction laced with envy and hatred. Prof. Zulum as a scholar that found himself in the poll of public administration is aware of the antics of his detractors which he ignored all along for fear of equalization.
Those, beating drums of hatred for whatever reason against Prof. Zulum, to say the least are on self-suicide mission against the people of Borno State who are appreciative of the governing style of their anointed leader. To those who are beneficiaries of the governing style of Prof. Zulum, his detractors are more murderous than the Boko Haram insurgents having a field day.
So, it rankles: It shocks one to the marrow more so because acts of sheer deception, cowardice, murdering facts and bitter hatred and envy as reflected in some of William Shakespeare’s plays of the 16th century is now playing out in the 21st Century with uncanny semblances! And what for if not because of transient fame and fortunes.
But that is desperation for you: vacillating like the tropic weather. Yesterday, they pretended to be the most caring, loving and serving servants, sons, friends or allies of Borno State, only because they were in dire need of Zulum’s help, most likely to get out of a sticky situation. Today, they have turn coat at the drop of a hat, that is, when the price is right to blackmail those they envy for being courageous and truthful.
As the folktales gather momentum within their enclave, the mischief has now developed wings and reached the media in desperation to settle a perceived score. The offence to have warranted the publication remains shrouded in secrecy to real advocates of good governance in Borno State.
Having achieved several feats, out of rare sense of patriotism, it is a crying shame that some individuals, who envy the successes of others, are now making attempts to rubbish good images built over decades of selfless service anchored on sincerity and fear of God.
It would do those hidden traitors, who, like the Astyanax fish species that blackmail others, now bent on doing Prof. Zulum to have some moment of sober reflection. They should remember that in the market square of life, it is always honorable and rewarding to support and be grateful to those who serve with passion and dexterity, instead of turning round to spit on their faces for selfish interest. What is the offence in saying the truth to salvage a bad situation for spurious publications to sprout? Those detractors should sheath their sword for the Almighty God who created us all is watching as the only ONE to whom vengeance belongs and He will surely take recompense. For, anybody who abuses grace will soon have nothing to eat but grass. Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the Governor of Borno State has no axe to grind with anyone or group. His only problem is on how to defeat Boko Haram and reconstruct Borno State. Spurious publications and mischief should better be targeted to the enemies of a secured Borno State but not Prof. Zulum or his predecessor. Those itching for a media war should look elsewhere for those that have time to engage them, but not the erudite scholar that has no time to waste on baseless issues of no value to securing Borno State.
Alhaji Bako Abubakar
