Zulum Reveals Painful Past, Says He Was Detained Over Governorship Ambition.

It was a moment of deep emotion and reflection in Maiduguri as Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, opened up on a painful chapter of his life, recounting how he was once detained by the police for daring to pursue his ambition to serve his people.

Speaking on Wednesday during the inauguration of the Borno APC Campaign Council at the Government House Multipurpose Hall, Zulum disclosed that his hands were blistered and bleeding from drawing water from a well in Mafa when he decided to contest for the chairmanship of Mafa Local Government Area.

“I was in Mafa, drawing water from a well, my hands blistered, soaked with blood. So, I declared interest and prayed to Allah for the position to drill boreholes in Mafa,” he recalled.
However, rather than receiving support, he said he encountered betrayal, jealousy and false allegations.

“Some people reported that I joined NADECO or whatever they call it, trying to instigate the public against the local government officials, and I was locked up,” Zulum said.

He explained that the experience marked the first and last time he would personally declare interest in an elective political office.

Reflecting on the experience, the governor said he would not be surprised if someone was arrested during a political struggle.

“So, I will not be surprised if police arrest someone during a political struggle,” he added.

Zulum also spoke about the sacrifices associated with leadership, explaining that he often closes from office between 11:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. daily while enduring insults and carrying the responsibilities of governing a state affected by years of challenges.

Addressing criticisms surrounding the arrest of “Tinubu Must Go” protesters, the governor maintained that he was not responsible for the incident.

“God knows, I only got to know about what happened in the mosque the following morning. But I have to absorb it because they voted for me,” he said.

Zulum, who is among the few governors who have resisted the temptation of moving to the Senate after completing their tenure, also spoke about forgiveness and his preparations for life after office.

He recalled standing at the Holy Kaaba alongside President Bola Tinubu, where he forgave everyone who had offended him and equally sought forgiveness from those he might have wronged.

His message to aggrieved APC aspirants who lost their tickets during the party’s primaries was that they should accept the outcome in good faith, stressing that political power ultimately comes from God.

“It’s only God that gives power to whom He wishes, and if you take it in good faith, He will replace it with something better,” he said.

The governor specifically mentioned his friend, Ya Massa, who also lost his ticket, urging him to join him in completing the remaining part of their political journey without seeking elective positions.

Zulum, however, warned members of the APC Campaign Council against complacency, insisting that they must intensify their mobilisation efforts across the state.

He directed the campaign council, which he personally chairs, to return to the grassroots, including wards and polling units, to mobilise massive votes for President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Mustapha Gubio and all APC candidates.

He said the mobilisation was necessary to demonstrate appreciation for the Federal Government’s projects and interventions in Borno State.