NEWS
Forces behind Zulum’s mouth diarrhoea on Nigerian military
By Reuben Dodo
In the first week of December, when 43 rice farmers were killed in the little town of Zabarmari, Borno State; the state governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum betrayed his rare side when he acknowledged that the attack is only a setback that should not be used to asses the efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s efforts on security.
Records of the security situation in Borno State according to Zulum, have shown that citizens are better off security-wise under the Buhari administration than the previous administration.
The Governor said this is because records taken from 2011 from the 27 local government areas of the state indicate clearly that Buhari has still performed better in the handling of Borno’s security challenges.
He said, “We now have citizens led by our traditional rulers safely back to Bama, Gwoza, Askira-Uba, Dikwa, Ngala, Monguno, Kukawa, Damboa, Konduga, Mafa, all of which no one could visit not to talk of living there.
“Our emirs were all in exile. Today, Bama is coming back to life and so is Askira-Uba, Damboa, Gwoza and others. Life is even returning to normal in Baga. This was impossible before Buhari.”
But less than two weeks after Zulum made that sincere statement, his other side came to the fore. The Governor, this week, came hard on the military blaming the armed forces for the abduction of over 30 travellers on the Maiduguri- Damaturu road.
He said, “I am really disappointed that despite all support from both the federal government and from us in Borno State, our military is failing to secure an area of 20 kilometers, which is the distance between Auno and Jakana. “So, if the military cannot secure 20 kilometers, how can they keep us with the hope they will defeat the Boko Haram?” he said while berating the army for not being visible on the road.
The two contradictory statements depict how Zulum, through his verbal diarrhoea, has consistently been inconsistent and constantly flip flopping from one extreme to the other when it comes to acknowledging the efforts of the military in his state.
While the two statements appear contradictory, the fact is that it is a self-induced case of bipolarism for political gains. One cannot fail to notice that shortly after Zulum made the comment commending the Buhari administration and by extension the military and the current set of service chiefs for the good job they’ve been doing in the last five years, his godfather, the former governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima, to whom he owes his political ascendancy, came out smoking hot the very next day to berate the military and to call for the sack of the service chiefs.
And in the bid to put an icing on the cake, Shettima added the needless line, that President Buhari is no god.
As Shettima was roundly being condemned over the statement, Zulum who won the hearts of many by making the earlier comment adjugded to be fair on what the military had achieved under President Buhari did a volte-face. The governor used the opportunity of a recent attack on Damaturu- Maiduguri road to support his godfather by unwittingly relapsing into criticising the military by blaming the military for the attack.
Fact is, Zulum knows the truth, that the military is doing a good job of securing citizens in Borno and other parts of the country but he cannot sustain the point because his political godfather feel he must act otherwise.
Shettima and the rest of the political heavyweights in Borno are not happy that someone from the state is doing so well and has won the heart of the President and the people by leading the war against insurgency and terrorism successfully from the front.
In the queer mindset of people like Shettima, all top political positions in the state and from the state should be reserved for members of only a particular ethnic group and anything outside that is considered an aberration.
It is this perceived ‘aberration’ that Zulum, Shettima and co wish to ‘correct’ that theye are doing all they could to portray the military in bad light. The Boko Haram problem has become a bargaining chip for intimidating the presidency into toeing that line.
In this case, they also betrayed the ethnic card when they’ve never castigated or accuse the National Security Adviser whenever there’s a breach of security in Borno State though most of those incidences could have been avoided if there had been more of intelligence gathering.
As far as Shettima, Zulum and co are concerned, claims of ethnic superiority trumps over the bid to save lives and property which the military is doing.
So it is not surprising that Zulum’s godfather, Shettima, always calls him to order each time he tells the truth about Boko haram and you see the govenor running today a different thing the next day.
It has become an open secret that any time Zulum commends the military and fails to play the ethnic card, he is quick to do a recant as Shettima would threaten him with withdrawal of his ticket for 2023.
Further to that, Shettima has been a big beneficiary of the Boko Haram crisis that he is not keen on seeing an end to it. It was Boko Haram that shot the man that won the governorship ticket of the defunct ANPP before the ticket was handed over to Shettima.
When Shettima governed Borno, he was able to corner the funds meant for local governments because Boko Haram had helped to make it impossible to conduct elections in the LGs hence are administered through appointed proxies with no accountability. This he wants to continue under Zulum for obvious reasons.
Prof. Zulum, unlike Shettima is yet to shake off the grip of his godfather predecessor who likes to pretend that he does not interfere in running the affairs of the state. In trying to keep up the Shettima pace, Zulum has within one year committed many blunders in his dealing with the military.
In January, he accosted military men on check point duties and accused them of extorting money from travelers thereby embarrassing the military to dismantle checkpoints along the route which led to serious security problem that people began calling for the head of Zulum.
A month after when there was an attack on Auno, near Maiduguri, Zulum accused soldiers of abandoning residents at the mercy of Boko Haram insurgents alleging further that soldiers meant to secure the community deserted the people.
Now he is saying that the military is not visible on the Maiduguri- Damaturu road as if he knows anything about security and counter-terrorism operations.
He seems not to realise that the days of mounting sentry are over as soldiers visibly placed on roads have constantly been attacked and killed.
The governor at a time even threatened to mobilise hunters and vigilantes to recapture Baga all in the bid to ridicule the military.
But with the liquidation of over 2000 insurgents within three months no one can accuse the military of being sloppy.
That military operations in the Northeast have been succesful is contained in the fact that in more than 300 instances, the military has either repelled, killed, captured or destroyed the camps of the terrorists.
Zulum has been a big beneficiary of military operations in Borno as he has on three occasions been saved from harm by the military. That such a man would open his mouth to badmouth the military is the height of ingratitude.
Dodo is a public affairs analyst and wrote this piece from Jalingo.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will work in harmony with the Rivers State House of Assembly to recover lost ground and fast-track the state’s social and economic growth.
In a statewide broadcast, Fubara described the period of emergency as one of the toughest phases in the state’s history. He said his decision not to challenge the presidential declaration was guided by the conviction that no sacrifice was too great for peace.
“The President graciously brokered peace during this period, and we all accepted it, though not without the hard lessons learnt during the emergency rule,” he noted.
The governor stressed that it was now the responsibility of leaders to set aside personal interests and focus on the collective good of Rivers State.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for what he termed a “fatherly intervention” that restored democratic governance in the state.
Fubara also acknowledged the role of his political leader, former Governor Nyesom Wike, along with the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and other stakeholders in sustaining peace. He further commended the Speaker and members of the state Assembly for their cooperation.
While assuring his supporters that “not everything is irretrievably lost,” he maintained that “the costly peace is cheaper than the cheapest war,” emphasizing the need to build a more prosperous Rivers.
He recalled some of his administration’s achievements before the emergency rule and promised to resume funding ongoing projects to ensure their completion.
The governor also reiterated his resolve to work with the House of Assembly in the interest of the people, thanking Rivers residents for their resilience, peaceful conduct, and prayers.
See full address below
STATEWIDE BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY, SIR SIMINALAYI FUBARA, GSSRS, ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2025
My dear good people of Rivers State
Recall that Rivers State was placed under a six-month emergency rule, declared by Mr. President, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on the 18th of March, 2025, following the intense political crisis in our State.
2. It is without doubt that the last six months had been enormously challenging for our dear State under the emergency rule.
3. As your Governor, I accepted to abide by the state of emergency declaration and chose to cooperate with Mr. President and the National Assembly, guided by my conviction that no sacrifice was too great to secure peace, stability, and progress of Rivers State.
4. This was why I also resisted the pressure to challenge the constitutionality of the declaration of a state of emergency, the suspension of democratic institutions, and all other actions that we endured during this difficult period.
5. In the course of the six-month period, Mr. President graciously brokered the peace process with all the parties successfully. Our Leader, His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and I, as your Governor, have all accepted to bury the hatchet and embrace peace and reconciliation in the best interest of our dear Rivers State.
6. We believe the political crisis is now behind us and that peace and stability have once again returned to Rivers State, though not without the hard lessons learnt from the emergency rule.
7. The responsibility now rests squarely on us: the Government, the State House of Assembly, political leaders and stakeholders to put aside our differences, work for the common good, and advance the interests of our people above all else. We have a duty to ensure that the peace we have all embraced remains permanent in our dear Rivers State.
8. On behalf of the Government and the good people of Rivers State, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. President for his fatherly disposition and decisive interventions in resolving the political crisis and for graciously restoring full democratic governance to our State.
9. Personally, I will never take Mr. President’s kindness for granted, and for that, I hereby reaffirm my utmost loyalty and eternal gratitude.
10. To those who have expressed genuine fears, frustrations, and uncertainty over the nature of the peace process, I assure you that your concerns are valid and understood. However, nothing has been irretrievably lost; there remains ample opportunity for necessary adjustments, continued reconciliation, and inclusiveness. We must all remember the saying… ” the costliest peace is cheaper than the cheapest war”.
11. Accordingly, let us, therefore, embrace this moment as a fresh beginning. Let us work together with renewed hope and determination to build a stronger, more peaceful and prosperous Rivers State. I assure you that we will continuously work towards ensuring that we carry everyone along.
12. Despite the turbulence, you are aware of the credible milestones our administration achieved in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other key sectors over the last two years.
13. Our immediate responsibility is to return to the path of governance and development by completing the projects which we started by ensuring none of them is starved of funds or neglected, thereby reviving our economy, protecting lives and property, and improving the wellbeing of all Rivers people.
14. I commit to working harmoniously with the Rivers State House of Assembly to recover lost grounds and accelerate the social and economic advancement of our dear State. I also renew my pledge to serve with the fear of God, humility and a high sense of duty.
15. I wish to sincerely thank you, the resilient people of Rivers State, for your patience, courage, and peaceful conduct during the six months of emergency rule.
16. I also extend appreciation to all stakeholders, religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society groups, political actors, women groups, youths, concerned citizens at home and abroad, and well-wishers whose prayers and support sustained us through the challenging period.
17. Above all, let us draw strength from our shared identity as Rivers people. Our diversity is our greatest asset, and our unity the strongest guarantee of our future. We must rise above bitterness and division and channel our energies into rebuilding trust, fostering inclusiveness, and securing a peaceful and prosperous State for all.
18. Once again, I thank and appreciate our Father, Mr President, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for his timely intervention and dedication to ensuring the restoration of peace and stability in our State.
19. 1 also thank our Leader, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory for committing to the prompt resolution of the political impasse in the State.
20. I also wish to express my profound thanks to the President of the Senate His Excellency Senator Godswill Akpabio; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, His Excellency Dr. Abbas Tajudeen; and the distinguished members of the National Assembly for the role they all played in the resolution of the matter.
21. I thank the Honourable Speaker and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, respected elders, stakeholders and all concerned citizens for working together to resolve our differences and ensuring peace and harmony in our State.
22. Finally, I call on all citizens of Rivers State, regardless of political, religious, or ethnic affiliation, to join hands in rebuilding our beloved State and securing a future of dignity and progress for everyone. In all, I give glory to the Almighty God.
Thank you all.
May God bless Rivers State and all its people.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Mandate Secretary for Health and Human Services in the Federal Capital Territory, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, has dismissed reports of an Ebola outbreak in Abuja, confirming that a suspected case, identified as “patient X,” tested negative for both Ebola Virus Disease and Marburg Virus.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Fasawe assured residents that there is no Ebola in the FCT, stressing that the outcome was made possible by the “efficient surveillance system” established under the leadership of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
“This meeting is a sort of verification. You have asked what is going on, is Ebola in the FCT? And on behalf of the Minister, I say today that Ebola is not in FCT. Confirmed, verified, and said with authority,” she stated.
Her clarification came after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed that two recent suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever in Abuja tested negative for Ebola and Marburg, though further tests are being conducted for Lassa fever and dengue fever.
Fasawe explained that patient X had arrived in Nigeria on a flight from Rwanda, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo, where an Ebola outbreak is ongoing. She commended the patient for seeking immediate medical attention and praised Nisa Premier Hospital for promptly activating infectious disease protocols, which ensured the case was properly managed.
“We had a possible one case that we were determined would not spread further. We went as far as obtaining the airline manifest and tracing all contacts. I’m happy to say we are free, there is no Ebola. The patient is responding to treatment for her fever,” she said.
Fasawe further urged FCT residents to adopt healthier medical-seeking habits, warning that “not every fever is malaria” and advising prompt reporting of unusual symptoms, particularly fever with bleeding, to the nearest health facility.
She emphasised that huge investments have been made in the FCT health sector and encouraged residents to utilise available facilities for early detection and treatment of diseases.
The Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, has called for stronger collaboration between the media and the police in the interest of national security and public trust.
Hundeyin made this appeal during a visit to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council.
He explained that his job as police spokesman would be difficult without strong support from the media.
“I cannot succeed in this role without the collaboration of the press,” he told the gathering.
Hundeyin used the occasion to call for balanced reportage stressing that the ripple effect of negative stories can damage public confidence in the police.
“Policing relies heavily on information,” he said. “Officers can’t be everywhere at once, which is why people’s tips and shared intelligence are so important. But when the public loses trust in us, those vital sources of information dry up, and that puts everyone at risk.”
On our own part we will continue to do everything humanly possible to protect lives and property “ he said
He added that insecurity in one part of the country can affect the whole nation. Hundeyin stressed that his message was not about controlling the press, but about encouraging balanced and responsible reporting.
“I am appealing to you today, help us build trust,” he said. “Let’s work together through open communication and partnership to make both the police and the country stronger.”
Hundeyin also promised to respond quickly and fairly to any issues journalists face while doing their work, especially in their interactions with police officers.
In response, NUJ FCT Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike welcomed Hundeyin’s visit and expressed readiness to work closely with him.
“On behalf of the NUJ FCT Council, I warmly welcome you,” she said. “We truly value this effort by the police to connect with the media directly. It shows your commitment to open dialogue and better understanding.”
She went on to say: “The NUJ FCT does not tolerate any form of harassment or intimidation of journalists. Press freedom is a right, not a privilege.
“As journalists, we recognise the key role the police play in keeping the peace and upholding the law. At the same time, the public needs timely, accurate, and honest information to have confidence in the police and other security agencies.
“That’s why our relationship must be built on trust and cooperation.
Together, we can stop the spread of misinformation and promote reporting that helps society move forward.”
Comrade Ike pledged the support of the NUJ FCT Council in working with the police for the good of the public.
“We are ready to partner with you,” she said. “Let’s make sure information flows freely and responsibly, so that both our institutions can serve the people better.”
Hundeyin was warmly received by the NUJ FCT Chairman, Ms Grace Ike, along with other council members including Secretary Comrade Jide Oyekunle, Assistant Secretary Ms Sharon Emephia, Auditor Rosemary Ukoko-Tega, Financial Secretary Henry Daniel Abimiku, and Ex-Officio 1, Ebriku John Friday.
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