(Opinion) Who is betraying Governor Zulum?

By: Inuwa Bwala
As a follow up to his rehabilitation and resettlement efforts, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum was in Chad, Niger and Cameroun Republics to empathize with Borno State citizens who were displaced from their ancestral homes in the ensuing Boko Haram crisis. At every stop in all the countries, he gave out relief materials to citizens of the state, who have been scattered into various camps beyond the Nigerian borders.
I am aware that, the Governor discussed possibilities of repatriating his citizens back home, which he did in the open and not at any closed door meeting. I have keenly followed all his visits and at no point did he ever discuss with any leader of the three countries the issue of boundary adjustment or surrendering his citizens to any country.
I was surprised when a newspaper editor in Abuja called me to inform me that they were in receipt of a petition by a so called Concerned Citizens, alleging that Governor Babagana Zulum has been negotiating the ceding of parts of communities from his state to a particular foreign country. I am not the Governor’s spokesman, so I referred him to those officially assigned to do so.
According to him, the petitioners were calling on the President to call the Governor to order, alleging that he has been discussing national security issues with leaders of these countries, and that he allegedly agreed to cede some parts of his state to a particular foreign country. He did not name the petitioners; neither did he tell me whether they are from within or outside Borno.
Initially, I laughed it off, knowing fully well that, nothing could be further from the truth and the Governor’s spokesman, whom I know very well will explain better. On a second thought, I called the fellow back, just in case he fails to or refuses to call the spokesman, and explained to him what I knew about the visit. I was quick to point out that, somebody or some people may be ignorant of what the Governor did during the visits or deliberately being up to mischief.
When eventually I read the report in some newspapers, my immediate reaction was to try and picture the motive and possibly where it was coming from. So many theories crossed my mind, but my immediate suspicion was of those stakeholders who are either envious of Governor Zulum’s fast rising acclaim, within such a very short time of becoming a Governor. In recent times, there have been permutations to the effect that he may have the magic wand to ending the crisis and repositioning Borno State. Others even aver that he is a good material as President.
On the other face, since the withdrawal of Chadian troops from the operations in the North East, Boko Haram attacks seem to have intensified. And some actions of Governor Babagana Zulum have tended to expose certain loopholes in the management of the crisis, as it affects international involvement. Could his overtures in seeking for collaborations become a threat to some interests? So many questions begging for answers.
There might not have been any official reaction from the Governor so far, which means, the matter was not worth a response, or that they may have seen through the mischief. I decided to make a personal opinion, so that others will know that Nigerians are not sold to the gimmicks, ostensibly targeted at pitching the Governor against the Presidency.
President Muhammadu Buhari is conversant with every move of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum in trying to secure peace in his domain. The National Security Adviser and the Service Chiefs are aware and have been lending logistics support to all these movements. None of his outing have been a hidden issue to Nigerians either. So who could be the brain behind the smear campaign?
I know as a matter of fact that there has been no official interaction between governor Zulum and an y leader of the three countries, to warrant any form of negotiation. His appreciation to the authorities were merely in his remarks to his citizens. I challenge those petitioners to give proofs of the so called negotiations, the parties involved and where it took place. I will be ready to give graphic details of the Governor’s outings in the three countries. Nigerians can then judge.
Circumstances surrounding the recent petition against Governor Zulum give me the impression, that, we may be witnessing an episode that may shape all others in the future. Ides, is the 15th day of March in the ancient Roman calendar, upon which all other dates were calculated. To me, it should be named as the day of betrayal, given that, it was the day, Julius Caesar of the Shakespearean fame was betrayed by his allies and closest friends. Could this be what is coming to Borno State Governor. How else can one explain recent events to the effect that people who seem to know about the renowned Professor’s programme have chosen to black mail him.
▪ Inuwa Bwala is a former Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture in Borno State.