The people of the North East zone, particularly those in Borno State, have spent more than half of Nigeria’s 23 years of uninterrupted democracy, showing “incredible resilience” against vicious attempts by Boko Haram insurgents to undermine democratic institutions, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum said has said.
Zulum, yesterday, described the people of Borno State and the rest of the Northeast as deserving of being amongst heroes of Nigeria’s 23 years of sustained democracy.
Zulum, who is the chairman of the Northeast Governors’ Forum, conveyed these in his democracy day message, made public by his spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau.
The governor said it was now 23 uninterrupted years since Nigeria returned to democratic rule back in 1999, noting that in those 23 years, societies across the country had witnessed different levels of progress and challenges.
“In those 23 years, the people of Borno State and other parts of the Northeast, have since July 2009, ceaselessly resisted groups of extremely violent insurgents with the determination to wreck massive havoc on communities, pursuing the ultimate objective of bringing down democratic institutions in Nigeria, and replacing them with violent sovereign doctrines.
“From 2009 to date, which is about 13 years, thousands of our youthful fellow citizens, amongst them women and even old men, have devoted their lives to supporting armed forces in fighting Boko Haram and stopping the insurgents from undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty and our democracy.
“In these 13 years, countless number of these citizens as members of ‘Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes, have made sacrifices including giving their lives at battle fronts, to protect fellow citizens and to preserve our nation’s sovereignty and democracy,” Zulum said.
He added that these fallen volunteers alongside those currently in front lines and all citizens of the northeast eminently qualify to be named amongst the heroes of Nigeria’s 23 years of uninterrupted democracy.
“We will forever be grateful to the volunteers for their sacrifices just as we should regularly remember them in our prayers as we seek end to the insurgency that is now on comparative decline.
