Western nations have shown more concerns about the plights of Borno State during the insurgency than the rich Arab nations, whose people share the similarity of religion and culture with the majority of Borno citizens, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has said.
Zulum stated this on Tuesday in Maiduguri when he received the Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Saleh Fheied Saleh.
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A statement by the governor’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, quoted Zulum as saying “I am a practical person. I work with the realities I see on ground. In the face of our challenges over the years, we have received humanitarian support from the UK and other parts of Europe, the United States, Canada, from Japan and a host of others, who have demonstrated concern and have made efforts to support our traumatised citizens in many ways especially on food, medicals and livelihoods.
“However, that level of concern never came from Arab countries with whom millions of Borno people share similarity in religion and culture. We even have indigenous Shuwa Arabs in Borno and this shows how our histories are tied.
“We have made several efforts, written and visited embassies of Arab countries, especially those that are rich and not dealing with crises, but obviously the majority of the Arabs do not care about our situation, neither do they support us. The Arabs have not shown concern to us. Your visit, however, has renewed our hope especially and we are very grateful for your visit.”
The statement said the ambassador explained that his country planned to support the state in select areas.
The Ambassador also said many Nigerians are currently residing in Palestine, particularly Borno indigenes, some of whom have diligently served the government and people of Palestine.
He cited that among Borno people in Palestine, a lady called Fatima Barnawi was once a minister and a police chief.
