2023: What Role For Governor Zulum?

By Gideon Njoku

In the past couple of weeks, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has been trending.

Aside from his now frequent  update on the security situation in his very embattled State, trying to paint a  fair picture of it, speculations have been rife that, whichever way his Party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, zones its Presidential ticket against 2023, Zulum could be on the cards.

The Professor has been having good reviews in the Media. Both his former boss  – his predecessor in office-  Senator Ibrahim Kashim Shettima, and the Presidency, have singled him out in the past one week for praises.

Senator Shettima described him as incorruptible. He said when he appointed Zulum as one of his Commissioners, he had no doubt in his mind that he had found a successor who would work selflessly for the people.

He said Zulum handled, and allocated thousands of houses to people without allocating anyone to himself, even when he had no house of his own.

Shettima said he thought it was not true, until he visited Zulum and found out he was living in his father’s house.

Shettima said when he told Zulum he would be his(Shettima’s) successor, Zulum turned it down, on the grounds that he had no money to prosecute the project.

So, said Shettima: “I purchased the form for him, and I funded his election.”

More good testimonials followed a few days after, this time from the Presidency.

In an article titled “Zulum Zooms In”, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, devoted his weekly outing to  Zulum. After reeling out the Governor’s many praise-worthy achievements  in office, Adesina informed Nigerians that they would hear more of Zulum in the coming weeks and months.

Was that a hint that something bigger would come Zulum’s way soon?

Was that a confirmation of the speculations that Zulum  would play a prominent role in 2023? Not a few people think so.

They think Zulum, perhaps, is being prepared either for the office of the President or the Vice President. Probably  the later, especially given what Shettima said of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a frontline Presidential aspirant under the APC.

Just two days ago, Shettima endorsed Tinubu, asking the North to reciprocate what Tinubu did for the Zone. It is pay back time to Tinubu, Shettima urged the North.

But here is the slack.

If Tinubu gets the APC ticket, it will not be quite possible for Zulum to be his running mate. Both are of the Islamic faith. The Nigeria of today is not the Nigeria of 1993 when both Chief MKO Abiola, a Muslim,  the presumed winner of the canceled election,  had  Babagana Kingibe, another Muslim as his running mate.

So what gives?

Political analysts are of the opinion that if the Buhari Presidency is so sold on Zulum as a Vice Presidential candidate, then a Christian candidate will be the Presidential candidate.

This medium gathers that Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Transportation Minister, Rotimi Chibuke Amaechi, and Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi are on the cards for consideration.

For now, like Adesina said, a lot of eyes are focused on Professor Zulum. Born in 1969, age is certainly on his side.