Borno
State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara on Wednesday said he was ready to
tackle the challenges of insecurity of lives and property in the state.
The challenge of insecurity remains one of the greatest challenges of Borno
State after a decade old Boko Haram insurgency.
Umara, reading his inauguration speech, moment after he has been sworn in with
his Deputy, Alhaji Usman Kadafur, promised that his administration will embrace
national and regional security architecture and form close collaboration with
the Military, Civilian Joint Taskforce and other security agencies towards
restoration of absolute peace in the state.
Umara, who became the 6th Civilian Governor of the Northeast state, revealed
that his administration would institute policies and programmes that will
promote peaceful and harmonious existence among the citizens of the state.
He said: “There is no gainsaying the fact that insecurity has been the major impediment
towards our development in the past decade . It disrupted public
services, eroded institutional capacity and hampered infrastructural
development. It isolated communities , disrupted markets and trading.
“Without mincing words, security of lives and property remains the most
fundamental thing we require in our lives today. We will deploy the use
of modern technology to enhance information sharing among the security
agencies.
“Food security will be my administration’s second priority next to
security and welfare of the people as enshrined in the constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria. I will utilize the abundant sophisticated
and modern agricultural implements and equipment my predecessor acquired
in large quantity to boost food production across the state.
“Our people will definitely return to farm to produce enough to eat and
even sale for their economic gains. We have all what it takes to produce food
to address food scarcity caused by the attacks and threats of Boko Haram
insurgents. Our farmers will have access to their farmlands to
farm.”
Umara said reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement is also going to be
his priority as all the IDPs will return to their localities and resettle as
well continue with their life through collaboration with the security,
national and regional authorities, international NGOs like UNICEF, UNDP, UNHCR
among others.
Umara also promised that: “All our schools, markets, hospitals and clinics as
well as offices and other structures destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents
will be rehabilitated and put back to use as Borno will return to its past
glory of home of peace and center of Sahara trade down to Central Africa,,
Cameroon, Niger, Chad and other countries as well as states of the
federation.”
The new governor vowed to inject decency into Borno body politics by putting
off every culture of thuggery or ECOMOG, adding that political thuggery will
sooner or later become a thing of the past in Borno state.
The former governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima had in valedictory message,
said the journey of eight years of his administration has not been bed of roses
.
Shettima, who surprisedly did not make public the state of the account of the
state in line with the usual practice, lamented that the journey has been full
of trials even though in the midst of unimaginable perseverance and indomitable
courage.
He said: “These perseverance and courage have come to define how the world now
sees the people of Borno State.”
He decried that: “In addition to rebuilding communities, schools and
hospitals, we were also faced with a severe humanitarian crisis which arose
from massive displacement of people.
“In these movements, you never showed anything other than a sense of
belief that we are a people of destiny. Whether it was here in Maiduguri; in
faraway Abadam or Chibok, I have seen the struggles of our people and their
pains. I am an eyewitness to courage and the spirit of resilience exhibited by
our people.”
He however enjoined all citizes to give the loyalty and support they have given
his administration to governor Babagana Umara Zulum.
