From Olukayode Idowu, Maiduguri
SUNRISE NEWS, Borno, Aug 19, 2020 Tell Magazine, the nation’s foremost news magazine, on Monday named Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, it’s Year 2020 Governor of the Year.
The award which came as a surprise was give at the occasion of the swearing in of the newly appointed Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prof. Isa Marte and the launch of the Compendium of media reports on the Governor’s activities in his first year in office.
The award, which was given to Zulum for his courage in leadership, was presented by the President and Editor-in-Chief of Tell Communications, publishers of Tell Magazine, Mr. Nosa Igiebor, who led a delegation of the magazine’s management to Maiduguri.
Those in the team, include the Tell’s chief operating officer, Dejo Oyawale and executive editor, Wola Adeyemo.
The presentation of the presentation of letter of nomination and award to the governor in his home state is a rare occasion as most of the governors given such awards get them presented at a reception hosted at a grandiose ceremony in Abuja or Lagos.
Igiebor, while presenting the award to Zulum, said the governor has remained consistent in his demonstration of unconventional courage in serving Borno people, since May 29, 2020.
He said: “Leadership entails courage, commitment to the ideals of selfless service and unwavering dedication to pursue the best for the benefits of the people you lead and serve. Since your assumption of office as Governor, you have consistently demonstrated these sterling qualities of leadership.
“Your style and substance are unmistakable and a welcome breath of fresh air to Nigeria’s sterile political space of self-aggrandisement. We are, indeed, very impressed by your resolve and determination to succeed in your mandate of delivering the dividends of democracy to the long-suffering people of Borno. While some other state administrators, including those whose domains enjoy relative peace, reel out excuses to the citizenry, you have remained undaunted in fulfilling your promise to a state that is under siege”.
“Your boldness to state things in black and white no matter the circumstances, has endeared you to many. In short, you have become the voice of the voiceless as you have proven that government is not for the fainthearted, neither is timidity or criminal silence a prerequisite for real term growth and development.”
“In view of the impressive profile that Your Excellency has built in a relatively short time and which has gone a long way to restore hope, not only to the people of Borno State, but to the entire Nigerian citizenry, it is with much delight that the Executive Directorate of Tell Communications Limited is honoring and celebrating the most Courageous and Result-Oriented Governor in Nigeria, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, with the Tell Special Award as Governor of the Year for Courage in Leadership (2020). Congratulations sir”
Zulum, in his response, expressed appreciation to the management of Tell Communications, saying he considered the award, a challenge to do more.
Zulum described Igiebor, as one of the veteran journalists who fought for Nigeria’s return to democracy in the 90s despite arrests and detention, and has been holding leaders accountable, through his 43 years of journalism.