By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Amidst fears of pockets of insecurity ahead of the 2023 general elections in the country especially in Borno state, Governor Babagana Zulum on Friday said that the state is 90 percent secure and safe, assuring the voting public of their safety before, during and after the elections.
Governor Zulum gave the assurance while speaking to State House Correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Prompt News recall that there was an electoral violence in the state as recently as November 2022 where it was widely reported that the Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) campaign train was attacked in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state.
But Zulum has said that the state is peaceful, safe and there will not be anything that will prevent elections from holding in Borno, pointing out that even in the worst period of insurgency elections were held in the state without problems.
Explaining further he said: “The People of Borno State voted during the 2015 election. They also voted during the 2019 election. Can you compare the security situation in 2019 and 2015 and now? The security situation has improved tremendously by over 90 percent so we don’t have any problem.
“Eligible voters can go and cast their votes on election day, Insha Allah, in Borno State, we don’t have any problem.“
On the current security situation in the state, he said: “We thank God that there is great improvement in terms of security in Borno State. We are doing very well now, rehabilitation and resettlement is also going very well.
“We are looking forward to see how we can rehabilitate Maiduguri, Gamborun-Ngala road and then Maiduguri-Banke road with a view to opening up opportunities for the people to earn their means of livelihood”.
Asked what to expect in 2023 in Borno state, Zulum said: “I Want to see how we can sustain what we are doing. So far so good in terms of security, the federal government has done well, the military has also done very well. We are now looking into the possibility of rehabilitating the victims of the insurgency, a lot of them have surrendered.
“The federal government is supporting our mission of rehabilitating. But most importantly, we are yet to complete our resettlement project and very soon we will resettle victims of Gudubali local government area and also we will resettle all our refugees that are living Republic of Niger and Chad and Cameroon. Mr. President has given approval to this effect and very soon we will complete the entire settlement.”
Asked when the resettlement of IDPs in the state will be completed, he said: “Resettlement is not something that is easy, it will take a long time. But the most important thing is that those that are very much in need to be resettled will be resettled. But most importantly we have closed down all official IDPs camps winin Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Gere local government area, as I said, last one year ago.
“For now, we don’t have any official IDP camps within Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, the unofficial camps will also be closed in the next few months.”
Probed further to confirm reports that there are some areas in the state where insurgents are still holding sway, he said: “Even in the developed world we still have some pockets of insecurity. But by and large, we have succeeded a lot. Over 90 percent of our security situation has been improved.”
On how he is preparing in his re-election bid against an opposition in the state, he said: “It is impossible to question the destiny of God. Campaign is going on very well, Borno State is one big APC family.”
