Zulum Spends ₦350m To Prevent Crowd From Buhari During Visit To Borno

By Akinwale Kasali

For years, Borno State has been the epicenter of Insurgency by the dreaded Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province, ISWAP.

Thousands of residents in the State have been displaced, losing their families, loved ones and properties to the terrorists’ attacks.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has on multiple occasions been attacked by the same Group, escaping death by whiskers.

Residents of the State have on several occasions called on the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration to come to their rescue, but the appeals have not yielded any good fortunes, rather, the attack keeps escalating by the day.

President Buhari officially visited the State on Thursday, and knowing that his visit could be greeted by boos from residents of the State, Governor Zulum had, two days before the visit, in a Statewide Broadcast pleaded with the people of the State to welcome the President with open arms.

The Governor was basically avoiding a repeat of what happened in February 2020, when residents booed President Buhari as his convoy drove past when he visited the State on a Condolence visit.

The crowd had shouted in Hausa, saying, “Bama so, ka samu a kunya”, meaning, “We don’t want you here, you have disappointed us”.

Knowing the people of the State are displeased with the insecurity situation of the State and not  sure of the reaction of the people when the President finally shows up in the State, Governor Zulum is alleged to have spent a whopping N350 million to mobilise the crowd for the visit of President Buhari to the State.

It was gathered that the Governor considered the spending necessary to ensure that the Nigerian leader was not booed or stoned, with his  Official visit to the State marred with protest.