NORTHERN YOUTHS DEFEND ZULUM, SLAM ADEYANJU’S ‘INSULT TO BORNO PEOPLE

By Mairo Mariri

Maiduguri

The Arewa Youth for Progress and Development (AYPD) has strongly condemned activist Deji Adeyanju over his recent verbal attacks on Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, describing the comments as “reckless and unacceptable.”

Adeyanju, in a Facebook post, had accused Governor Zulum of starting his administration with “fake propaganda,” calling him “a complete disaster as governor” and alleging that he “loves tyranny and jailing critics.” He further suggested that Zulum may attempt to “repackage himself after 2027 and try to become another Nigerian messiah.”

But in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Abubakar, and made available to journalists in Maiduguri, the AYPD dismissed Adeyanju’s remarks as “baseless, misleading, and a direct insult to the resilience and sacrifices of the people of Borno State.”

“To call a performing governor, widely acknowledged as a man of the people and respected across the North, a disaster, is an insult not only to him but to all Borno indigenes who know his worth,” the statement said.

The youths reeled out what they termed Zulum’s “landmark achievements,” including the rebuilding of insurgency-ravaged communities, expansion of education and healthcare, major infrastructural projects, and poverty reduction initiatives.

Since 2019, Zulum has reportedly overseen the construction of new schools, hospitals, housing estates, and roads across rural and urban areas. He is also known for personally supervising project sites and relief efforts — a leadership style the group praised as “rare and inspiring.”

“Governor Zulum has never tried to deceive the people, nor has he portrayed himself as a messiah,” AYPD said. “He is a servant-leader whose humility, passion, and sacrifice for his people remain unmatched.”

The group gave Adeyanju a seven-day ultimatum to withdraw his comments and issue a public apology, warning that failure to comply would attract “massive resistance from northern youths determined to defend leaders who are genuinely working.”

They concluded by urging Nigerians to “rise above the distractions of professional critics and support leaders who are working in challenging environments, especially in a state like Borno that has endured years of insurgency.”