Borno elders won’t allow friction between Zulum, Shettima — Mali Gubio
Alhaji Bulama Mali Gubio (mni) is the Secretary of Borno Elders’ Forum (BEF) and Head of the Civil Service of the State. In this interview he stresses the need for sustained mutual respect between Governor Babagana Umara Zulum and his predecessor, Kashim
Are you in support of the measures taken by the military against some NGO’s accused of aiding insurgents in Borno State?
I am part and parcel of the process in my position as the chairman, Humanitarian Response Committee of Borno State. There is no doubt that some of these bodies’ presence in Borno, in the name of providing humanitarian services is inimical to the consolidation of the gains recorded in the fight against insurgency.
Borno started with just 33 humanitarian bodies. Eleven of them were UN donor and nongovernmental agencies, but today we have more than 250 competing to provide all manner of services.
You have heard some of them saying that they are neutral in their operations and this means that they treat lawabiding people of the state on the same pedestal with the terrorists.
This is a red flag that they provide support, food, drugs and care for the insurgents as well. How do you expect the military and the people of the state to look on, as some powers endanger our effort to defeat extremists and their ideology?
I think we can make do with the original number that came in and show the way out for these shadowy outfits that are clearly working against our collective desire to secure our state and our nation.
How would you assess the performance of Governor Babagana Zulum since he took over about four
months ago?
Going by our new governor’s antecedents, we expected nothing less than the sterling and commendable performance he has put in so far. He was a major stakeholder and was deeply involved in the process of rehabilitation, rebuilding and reconstruction of our distressed situation and communities, arising from the destruction wrought on the state by the activities of the Boko Haram.
Even before becoming governor, Professor Zulum was fully prepared for the herculean task of leading the state out of its developmental and security problems. When he became governor, he hit the ground running from day one; there is no place he has not visited in the state in his few days in office; he went to very dangerous places where even the soldiers feared to go.
We the people of Borno State are more than satisfied with our new governor and I can assure you that we will do everything necessary to support and cooperate with him to achieve his lofty developmental programmes for the state.
Are you confident of enhanced security in the insurgency ravaged state as the governor moves to solidify his position?
The future can only be better, God willing. Our hope as a people is for the governor to be able to initiate policies of securing the state; leading us out of our security challenges so that we can put the insurgency behind us and move ahead.
His result-oriented leadership style, his open door policy and the sincerity of his actions have resonated well with the people and all those involved in prosecuting the anti-insurgency campaign.
Nigerians are witnesses to the level of Zulum’s zeal, passion and commitment to the ideals of continuing with the policies bequeathed to him by his predecessor.
Some observers say mutual understanding between Kashim and governor Zulum must be sustained in order to enhance peace and development
of the state.What is your reaction to that?
There is nothing that is as important and critical in our quest to sustain the tempo of security and economic development in Borno than for us to do all that is humanly possible to encourage these two leaders to continue relating well.
Zulum was destined by God, he was the choice of the people and as we all know, the former governor stood for him because he was the best man to take Borno to the next level. Happily, the two have so far proved their maturity and they are in the best form of mutual respect and cooperation.
Considering that friction usually sets in is when mischief makers on both sides get the opening to create political crisis, are you not worried that such people may attempt to knock heads?
You are right, but the two men concerned have come a long way in their association and relationship. Again, one is a governor and the other is a senator and both are aware of the dangers of disunity between them. Their common love for Borno and the knowledge that they are destined to play historic roles in freeing their people from difficult challenges will be greater in their estimation than anything.
We the elders too will not take it lightly with any mischief maker who plots to destabilise the state by causing problems between these men.