Appoints three for SUBEB’s board, approves new adviser for projects monitoring
BY ROTIMI DUROJAIYE
“Any politician, no matter how highly placed he is, if found harbouring or sponsoring thugs, we will deal with him accordingly. This administration will not condone any act of indiscipline,” Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has warned.
His Senior Special Assistant on Publicity, Lanre Obadiah, said the governor gave the warning on Monday at the Government House while addressing leaders of political youth groups associated with thuggery known as ECOMOG in Maiduguri.
Zulum, had at different times approved series of vocational jobs and empowerment programmes for the groups to make them have access to lawful means of livelihood.
Despite these measures, Zulum inferred that most of the youths prefer political thuggery as a means of livelihood.
“Borno is the only place we have, we can’t allow few of you to destroy the state. I believe you are not the only people in Borno, we have over six million people in the state. We can’t allow you to continue terrorizing the population, we can’t tolerate that anymore.
“We will not continue to give you money; you cannot hold us to ransom. The security agencies have been directed to deal with anyone found parading himself as ECOMOG, either at the airport, graveyard, at wedding receptions or anywhere. You have been disturbing the public peace, constituting nuisance”, Zulum added.
Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Kaka Shehu Lawan, said in recent days, there has been increasing cases of theft and house burgling.
He warned that any person or group of persons found contributing to the insecurity within the state capital and its environs will be dealt with.
Commissioner of Police, Abdu Umar, and the State Director of Seciurity, Munir Mamman, pledged to act in line with the governor’s policy.
It would be recalled that in July 2019, which was two months after assuming office, Governor Zulum had announced a ban on political thuggery in Maiduguri which had, in the mid-2000s, come under bloody clashes between rival thugs including killings.
He launched a vocational employment scheme to support the youths.
In 2020 and 2021, Zulum extended his ban on political thuggery to Biu and Gwoza, both of which have had notorious prevalence of thuggery. The governor later announced a statewide ban on the menace.
In another development, Governor Zulum has appointed three members for the Borno State Universal Education Board.
Two of the appointees, Bulama Kagu, who will serve as the Executive Chairman and Habu Daja Aliyu Damboa, a member representing southern Borno were appointed for their first term at the Board, while Abubakar Deribe who represents Borno Central was reappointed for a second term.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Relations and Strategy, Isa Gusau, who announced the appointments on Monday, said Zulum acted in accordance with section 12(1) a and b of the Borno State Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Law, 2005.
The three appointees were appointed based on merit. One of them, Kagu, is a Professor of education at the University of Maiduguri, was dean, school of postgraduate studies between 2014 and 2017, after serving as deputy dean of school of postgraduate studies from 2010 to 2014.
He was also dean faculty, of education, University of Maiduguri between 2007 and 2012.
Kagu is coordinator of the Universal Basic Education Programme at the University of Maiduguri, and he is Chairman of Borno State Counseling Association. Governor Babagana Zulum has also approved the appointment of Abubakar Idriss Garba as Special Adviser on Monitoring, Evaluation and Special Projects.
The position recently became vacant after Zulum elevated the adviser in charge of the office, to the position of Borno’s commissioner of education.
The appointment was also announced by the governor’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, on Monday night.
Gusau noted that Governor Zulum, while congratulating the three appointees, looks forward to their contributions amid absolute dedication to the selfless service of Borno people.
