January 06, (THEWILL) – Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has assured the voting public of their safety before, during and after the 2023 elections.
Speaking with State House Correspondents on Friday, after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Zulum declared Borno State “secure and safe” for the forthcoming elections.
Borno state has experienced several attacks by insurgent groups spanning from 2013. In 2014, over 200 Chibok female students were abducted by Boko Haram.
Along with Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), insurgent groups have conducted a series of attacks on the State, while taking refuge in most parts of the Sambisa Forest.
Recently, there was an attack on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign train in Maiduguri, the state capital.
Asked what he was doing to assure those afraid to go collect their PVCs because of insecurity as they may not be able to use it during the election, Zulum said: “The people of Borno State voted during the 2015 election. They also voted during the 2019 election. Can you compare the security situation in 2019 and 2015 and now? The security situation has improved tremendously by over 90 percent so we don’t have any problems.
“Eligible voters can go and cast their votes on election day, Inshallah, in Borno State, we don’t have any problem.
“We thank that there is great improvement in terms of security in Borno State. We are doing very well now, rehabilitation and resettlement are also going very well. We are looking forward to seeing how we can rehabilitate Maiduguri, Gamborun-Gala road and then Maiduguri-Banke road, with a view to opening up opportunities for the people to earn their means of livelihood.”
Asked what is to be expected in the new year, Zulum said: “Want to see how we can sustain what we are doing. So far so good, in terms of security, the Federal Government has done well, the military has also done very well. We are now looking into the possibility of rehabilitating the victims of the insurgency, a lot of them have surrendered.
“The Federal Government is supporting our mission of rehabilitating. But most importantly, we are yet to complete our resettlement project and very soon we will resettle victims of Gudubali Local Government Area and also, we will resettle all our refugees that are living in the Republic of Niger and Chad and Cameroon. Mr. President has given approval to this effect and very soon we will complete the entire settlement.”
Asked when the resettlement will be completed, the Governor said: “Resettlement is not something that is easy, it will take a long time.
“But, the most important thing is that those that are very much in need to be resettled will be resettled. But, most importantly, we have closed down all official IDPs camps in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Gere Local Government Area, as I said last, one year ago. For now, we don’t have any official IDP camps within Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, the unofficial camps will also be closed in the next few months.”
Asked to confirm or deny reports that there are some areas in the state where insurgents are still holding sway, he said: “Even in the developed world we still have some pockets of insecurity. But, by and large, we have succeeded a lot. Over 90 percent of our security situation has been improved.”
Asked how he was prepared in his re-election bid against opposition in the state, he said: “It is impossible to question the destiny of God. Campaign is going on very well, Borno State is one big APC family.”
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