By: Abdullahi InuwaÂ
For most political figures, a public commendation from a former president constitutes a distinguished honour. Yet when such praise emanates from the late President Muhammadu Buhari, a statesman renowned for his frugality with accolades and his unwavering insistence on integrity in public office, the commendation assumes considerably greater consequence.
Among the select few governors who earned Buhari’s open admiration was Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the Governor of Borno State. In what endures as one of the most consequential endorsements ever conferred upon a sitting governor, Buhari portrayed Zulum as an intellectual force, a disciplined administrator, and a leader whose probity distinguishes him within Nigeria’s political terrain.
“The government I led was fortunate, and the country was fortunate to have Professor Babagana Umara Zulum as Governor of Borno State. He is very intellectual, sound, young, and virtually incorruptible,” Buhari affirmed during an interview with NTA News Now.
The remark transcended mere personal compliment. It constituted a formal acknowledgement of a governing philosophy that has transfigured Borno State from an emblem of insurgency and humanitarian catastrophe into a paragon of resilience, recovery, and reconstruction.
Borno, the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency for over a decade, has endured devastation of unimaginable proportions. Entire communities suffered displacement, schools were razed, healthcare facilities collapsed, and economic activity ground to a standstill. Amid these adversities, however, Zulum emerged as a leader resolved to rewrite the prevailing narrative.
Since assuming office in 2019, the governor has cultivated an uncommonly proactive approach to governance. Rather than confining himself to the comfort of administrative quarters, Zulum routinely ventures into remote settlements, including territories formerly imperilled by insurgents. His visits frequently arrive without prior notice, enabling him to evaluate projects firsthand and engage directly with citizens.
It is precisely this manner of leadership that appears to have impressed Buhari.
“Nigerians are fortunate to have him in charge of the North-East. That man has straightened things,” the former president observed.
For many discerning observers, the expression “straightened things” encapsulates the very essence of Zulum’s stewardship. Within a region ravaged by insecurity and protracted neglect, the governor embarked upon an ambitious enterprise of rebuilding lives and restoring hope.
Thousands of dwellings have been erected for displaced families. Schools obliterated by conflict have been reconstructed and re-equipped. New healthcare establishments have been commissioned, while roads and other indispensable infrastructure now link communities once severed by violence.
Beyond physical reconstruction, Zulum’s administration has prioritised the restoration of dignity to victims of insurgency. Through humanitarian interventions, vocational training programmes, agricultural support schemes, and youth empowerment initiatives, countless families have been assisted in reclaiming their livelihoods.
Education remains a foundational pillar of his administration. As a former university professor and academic administrator, Zulum apprehends the transformative potency of learning. His government has invested substantially in school infrastructure, teacher recruitment, scholarships, and policies designed to elevate educational outcomes throughout the state.
Healthcare has likewise received considerable attention. Hospitals and primary healthcare centres have undergone significant upgrades, while medical services have been extended to rural localities previously deprived of quality care.
What renders Buhari’s endorsement particularly weighty is its emphasis on integrity. Throughout his political career, the former president consistently positioned himself as a proponent of transparency and accountability. Consequently, his characterisation of Zulum as “virtually incorruptible” constitutes a profound testament to the governor’s character and public standing.
Political analysts frequently cite Zulum’s modest lifestyle, rigorous oversight of government projects, and insistence upon value for public expenditure as factors that have fortified public confidence in his administration.
His standing has likewise transcended the boundaries of Borno State. Across Nigeria, Zulum is regularly invoked as an exemplar of responsive, people centred leadership. His interventions during humanitarian emergencies, his candid advocacy on matters of security, and his readiness to engage directly with ordinary citizens have garnered him admiration across diverse political and social constituencies.
The governor’s influence has grown especially conspicuous in deliberations concerning the trajectory of governance in northern Nigeria. Numerous stakeholders regard his administration as compelling evidence that effective leadership can yield tangible dividends even amid the most formidable circumstances.
For Buhari, who devoted eight years to confronting insecurity and developmental deficits in the North East, Zulum’s accomplishments embodied a success worthy of commemoration. His remarks reflected not merely confidence in the governor, but a recognition of the progress attained under demanding conditions.
As Nigeria continues to contend with economic and security exigencies, Buhari’s words endure as a compelling reminder of the attributes that define consequential leadership: vision, integrity, courage, and devotion to public service.
In final reckoning, the late president’s tribute extends well beyond the domain of politics. It bespeaks a legacy of governance that has touched lives, rebuilt communities, and rekindled hope where despondency once prevailed.
When Muhammadu Buhari proclaimed that Nigeria was fortunate to have Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, he gave voice to a conviction shared by countless Nigerians who have borne witness to the remarkable transformation of Borno State.
Perhaps his most memorable verdict remains the simplest of all: “That man has straightened things.”
Abdullahi Inuwa Social Commentator ainuwa303@gmail.comÂ
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