ZULUM: The governor that walks the talk, by Bolaji Tunji

I had an opportunity, once again, to meet with Gov Zulum of Borno State. I am again struck by his simplicity and what he had been able to achieve in Borno State . On arrival at Government House Borno on Wednesday, Prof Zulum paid a courtesy visit to his guest, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu who had decided that this year’s National Council on Power (NACOP) Conference would hold in Borno State.

In a simple attire of up and down, the governor strolled into the lodge where the Minister was. There was no security. It was with a young man believed to be a relative. The governor drove in a hyundai SUV while his companion sat by his side. Learned that was the practice in Borno, which made him a beloved of the populace. He chatted on his administration’s policies and how he had been able to achieve so much. One, he eliminated or reduced corruption to a state of practical non-existence. Contractors taking any project must sign a bond, nothing like incomplete project, nothing like cost variation, you also deliver at the time expected.

The following morning, he was around again to accompany his guest to the venue of the conference. While we were still looking for his official driver and police orderly, the governor strolled to the driver’s side. He was again his own driver. Beside him sat the Minister, and that was how they drove to the venue.
As a journalist, my memory of Maiduguri was that of a hot, flies-infested zone, having visited more than a decade ago. But it is a different Maiduguri today. Clean city that you hardly see any fly flying around.
But that is not the only impact of Prof Zulum. He has impacted the state in education, health, and other social services that make life worth living for his people and endeared him to many.

You hear reports of insurgency in the news all the time. However, if you visit Maiduguri, you wonder whether it’s somewhere else they are talking about. Most of the attendees at the conference enjoyed the hospitality that Maiduguri had to offer, especially the night life, only coming back in the wee hours. Well, Maiduguri is a city I will recommend if you desire serenity or you want to explore the further north.