I barely saw my family in first 55 days as gov — Zulum

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has revealed that he saw his children only three times during the first 55 days of his administration as he grappled with the security and humanitarian challenges facing the state.

The governor made the disclosure while receiving a delegation of prominent sons and daughters of Gubio Local Government Area, led by supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mustapha Gubio.

Reflecting on the early days of his administration in 2019, Zulum said the responsibility of addressing insecurity, displacement and other pressing challenges in Borno demanded significant personal sacrifices.

“When I assumed office, I saw my children only three times within the first 55 days. The first four years were extremely challenging, but with the help of Almighty Allah, we have begun to see progress,” he said.

The governor noted that although insecurity remains one of the state’s biggest challenges, his administration has made notable gains and remains focused on building a more stable future for residents.

He expressed confidence that security conditions would improve further before the end of his tenure and pledged to hand over a safer and more prosperous state to the next administration.

“Security remains our greatest challenge. By the grace of God, the situation will improve further before I leave office. I intend to hand over a more stable, secure and prosperous Borno State to Engr. Mustapha Gubio,” he stated.

Zulum also urged residents to support and pray for the APC governorship candidate, stressing that sustaining achievements is often more difficult than attaining them.

According to him, effective leadership requires wisdom, patience and the ability to manage success responsibly.

The governor described Gubio as a man of integrity and humility whom he has known for more than two decades, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the state.

“I have known Mustapha Gubio for 26 years, dating back to his days as a student at the University of Maiduguri. He is a person of integrity, calm disposition and strong character. I believe he has the qualities needed to lead Borno State,” Zulum said.

He further assured residents that his administration would continue to focus on security, economic growth and development projects aimed at improving the lives of citizens.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Gambo Gubio, thanked the governor for his role in the emergence of Mustapha Gubio as the APC governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 election.

He described the candidate as a worthy representative of Gubio and commended Zulum for his achievements in security, infrastructure development and governance.

The visit was attended by senior government officials, APC leaders, former lawmakers and community stakeholders from across Gubio Local Government Area.