MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has promised to hand over a significantly more stable, secure, and economically resilient state to the next administration at the end of his tenure.
The Governor gave the assurance on Monday at the Government House in Maiduguri during a high-profile courtesy visit from a delegation of prominent elders and stakeholders from the Gubio Local Government Area.
Okay News reports that the delegation was accompanied by the newly emerged All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus gubernatorial candidate for the 2027 election, Engr. Mustapha Gubio. The candidate, who is Governor Zulum’s immediate past Commissioner for Works and Housing, recently secured the party’s ticket following a strategic endorsement aimed at maintaining policy continuity within the state.
Addressing the stakeholders, Governor Zulum acknowledged that managing regional security remains his administration’s toughest challenge, but expressed confidence that ongoing stabilization efforts would yield lasting results before the political transition. “Security is the most difficult issue. Insha Allah, before I leave, the situation will be better than now,” Zulum stated, emphasizing that sustaining institutional milestones is often more demanding than achieving them. He urged the state’s political structure to rally behind the consensus candidate to safeguard progress.
Extolling the leadership traits of his anointed successor, Governor Zulum described Mustapha Gubio as a gentle, composed, and trustworthy administrator whom he has mentored closely for over 26 years since his undergraduate days at the University of Maiduguri. Reflecting on his early days in office in 2019, Zulum recalled the immense personal and familial sacrifices required to navigate the peak of Borno’s humanitarian and security crises, noting that collective resilience has finally brought light to the end of the tunnel.
The leader of the visiting delegation, elder statesman Alhaji Gambo Gubio, expressed deep appreciation to the Governor for his pivotal role in ensuring a transparent and unifying primary process. He lauded Zulum’s widespread achievements across regional infrastructure, economic governance, and community resettlement, declaring that the community remains fully committed to supporting the transition blueprint to guarantee a progressive future for Borno State.
