By Professor Babagana Umara Zulum
Throughout his eight years as elected President (2015 to 2023), His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, never for a second, shied away from displaying his strong affection, overwhelming compassion and undiluted empathy for Borno State and its people.
From his inaugural speech in 2015 to his actions till he left office, Buhari gave undivided attention to the fight against Boko Haram in Borno and rest of the northeast, just as he steadily accorded tremendous support towards the rehabilitation of victims, and their resettlement into new homes, sited in different parts of Borno and across the northeast, thousands of which were built and donated by the Federal Government he led.
Buhari made all his humanitarian policies at the Federal level, deliberately in favour of our states’ Government determination to strengthen citizens’ resilience against Boko Haram.
Buhari’s humanitarian policies, programmes and non kinetic counter insurgency measures, seriously undermined Boko Haram’s recruitment efforts and growth in Borno State. That hugely impacted on our security and stability.
Interpersonally, I have lost count on the number of times Buhari visited Borno State during his eight years, whether the visit was to show empathy and build our communal resilience, to support our military, to commission developmental projects, to lay foundation for new projects or to enhance our socio-economic recovery.
HE Muhammadu Buhari has been nothing short of a beloved father to Borno and its good people.
We today, as we will always do, celebrate a beloved father of Borno State.
Happy 81st Birthday to HE Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
May Allah grant our father many more blissful years and in the best of health, strength, faith and wisdom. Amin thumma amin.