Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum has revealed that in Maiduguri, at different times, some governors had spoken to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum about his safety and movements in tough terrains, but at all times, Zulum replied them, asking, “what about my people in Borno State, what happens to them?” under Borno’s war situation.
Fayemi made the revelation on Wednesday when he led three other governors: Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto who is Vice Chairman of the NGF, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi who chairs APC’s Progressive Governors Forum, and Simon Lalong of Plateau State who chairs the Northern Governors Forum, to Borno State on empathy and solidarity visit.
The governors, representing their forum (NGF), were in Maiduguri over attacks by Boko Haram on Governor Zulum’s convoy last weekend in Baga in the shores of Lake Chad, killing more than 10 policemen and volunteers.
“This is not the first time you (Zulum) have been attacked, but you always said to me and to a lot of our colleagues that it is God that will protect. Even when we say to you, Prof, you have to be careful, you have to be vigilant, you have to protect yourself, you always reply by saying, what about the people? It is my duty, the primary responsibility I have as Governor is the security and welfare of our people and that is what you have been discharging”, Fayemi said.
The Ekiti governor also said that Zulum, as part of his obligation, was quite frank in high level engagements including with President Muhammadu Buhari over the problems facing Borno State.
