… Vows not to join the impending national protest
The forum of non-indigenes residing in Borno has commended the leadership style of Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the Executive Governor of Borno State.
At a stakeholders meeting of all the presidents and officials of the various tribes that make up the forum in Maiduguri, on tuesday, the 23rd of July, Zulum’s proactive model of development and providing the enabling environment for the return and sustainance of peace was commended and recommended to other states of the federation for emulation.
In his welcome address, the patron of the non-indigenes forum who is the Oba (Mai) Yoruba of Borno, Alhaji (Hon.) Hassan Alao Yusuf, said “We, the leaders of the non-indigenes communities, have decided to call the representatives of communities to advise members to ignore any call to join any protest”.
Hassan Alao Yusuf also reminded the gathering that, “despite the security challenges, the governor has, through good governance, provided dividends of democracy through unprecedented infrastructural development such as world standard schools, health care facilities, roads and the provision of food and non food items to cushion the effects of the hard times for the people of the state.
Also addressing the meeting, the Otunba (Waziri) Yoruba, Chief Lanre Obadiah, emphasised the need for all citizens to support the governor in his acclaimed effort to return Borno to substantial peace and make the state a pride for all; a plan which protest and its possible attendant violence may truncate.
Other speakers at the occasion include the Chairman of Ohaneze APC support group, Chief Ugochukwu Oko Ike (Go Easy), Abraham Kaanti, President of the Tiv community and forum vice chairman, chief Sunday Julian Okonkwo, former president of Igbo welfare association.
Similarly, Chief Gabriel Andedzever of the Tiv community, Amos Paul Chiroma, President of the Ngas community, Hakeem, P.R.O of the Yoruba youths, Alhaji Yusuf Ujah of the Igala community, Engr John Azimeye of the Niger Delta people’s association and the leader of the Ngas women, Madam Christy Andrews, all spoke against the idea of joining in any national protest.
At the end of the meeting, it was unanimously resolved that no non-indigenes in Borno State will join any protest and the forum calls on the organisers of the protest to embrace peace and dialogue.