Tribute by hon babagana ajari, a grassroot politician and political insider, mobiliser.

Tribute by Hon Babagana Ajari, a Grassroot Politician and political Insider, mobiliser.

By Mohammed Tijjani

Borno State’s political history, spanning from the era of military administration through nascent democratic experiments and into the flourishing era of elective governance, no leader has exemplified excellence in public service delivery, infrastructural revolution, human capital development, institutional reform, and grassroots engagement more decisively than His Excellency, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, CON, FNSE—a paragon of visionary governance and humanitarian pragmatism.

This declaration is not an idle glorification, but a data-backed, performance-measured, people-centered validation by Hon. Babagana Ajari, a seasoned political stalwart and grassroots mobilizer whose practical experiences span the successive administrations of:

Group Captain Abdulmumini Aminu (1993–1996)

Col. Augustine Aniebo (1996–1998)

Col. Musa Shehu (1998–1999)

Alhaji Mala Kachalla (1999–2003)

Senator Ali Modu Sheriff (2003–2011)

Senator Kashim Shettima (2011–2019)

Having worked intimately across these epochs, Hon. Ajari attests—without equivocation—that Prof. Zulum towers head and shoulders above all predecessors in both scope and substance.

Governance Reimagined: Zulum’s Four-Year Developmental Masterclass

From his first 100 days in office to the fourth year of his first tenure in office as the excutivegovernor, Zulum has constructed a comprehensive matrix of both recurrent and capital projects that transcend tokenism and instead represent a holistic remodeling of Borno’s socio-economic architecture. Among the most remarkable include:

EDUCATION: Rebuilding Minds and Institutions

Construction and commissioning of over 400 new classrooms and 60 mega schools across LGAs.

Recruitment and training of thousands of teachers, reinvigorating the teaching profession.

Establishment of Borno State University Teaching Hospital and new academic faculties.

HEALTH: Strengthening Human Survival Index

Building 76 new primary healthcare centers and rehabilitating all general hospitals across the state.

Free maternal and child healthcare services launched in conflict zones.

Deployment of medical outreach caravans to hard-to-reach rural communities.

INFRASTRUCTURE & ROADS: Linking Development

Over 900km of roads constructed or dualized within and beyond Maiduguri Metropolis.

Establishment of new bridges, bypasses, and feeder roads in southern and northern Borno.

Digital street lighting projects launched across major towns.

HOUSING & RESETTLEMENT: Rebuilding Lives

Construction of more than 10,000 housing units in Bama, Gwoza, Monguno, Ngala, and Dikwa for IDP returnees.

Comprehensive reintegration programs with livelihood support and trauma counselling.

AGRICULTURE & ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Distribution of agro-inputs to over 50,000 farmers, establishment of irrigation clusters, and reactivation of Lake Chad farming schemes.

Youth entrepreneurship programs and Zulum Empowerment Scheme (ZES) launched.

SECURITY & CIVILIAN ENGAGEMENT

Recruitment and funding of over 3,000 civilian JTF and local hunters.

Deployment of security logistics, including vehicles, surveillance gadgets, and fuel to federal agencies.

TECHNOLOGY & ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM

Launch of Borno e-Governance platform, digital payroll system, and civil service reform.

Establishment of Borno Innovation Hub and investment in youth tech startups.

Why Zulum Ranks Supreme in the Pantheon of Borno Leaders.

While previous leaders laid certain foundations—such as:

Mala Kachalla’s emphasis on reconciliation and rural outreach (1999-2003)

Ali Modu Sheriff’s aggressive urban expansion and political realignments (2003-2011)

Kashim Shettima’s stabilizing governance amidst insurgency (2011-2019)—

None matched the structural depth, administrative speed, fiscal prudence, and human empathy with which Prof. Zulum governs. He is not merely building infrastructure; he is building a civilization. His brand of governance is empirical, not rhetorical—data-driven, not impulsive.

His engagement with citizens across displaced communities, his courage in visiting volatile zones, his zero-tolerance for corruption, and his hands-on approach have earned him both national and international acclaim, including from the World Bank, UNDP, and numerous humanitarian partners.

In his final Verdict: Having served Borno diligently across three successive democratic governors and witnessing firsthand their strengths and shortcomings, In my capacity as grassroot politician– I unequivocally declare Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum as the most effective, most transformative, and most people-centered leader Borno has ever produced. His leadership is not just a standard—it is a renaissance– Hon. Ajari declared.

Let history record that under Zulumism, Borno has emerged from ashes of adversity into a symbol of recovery, stability, and futuristic progress. He is not just the best governor of Borno; he is the signature of hope for a resilient state charting a bold course toward lasting peace and prosperity.