Michael Olugbode
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, has commended efforts of the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum in motivating troops engaging terrorist groups in the Northeast.
The Army Chief during a homage to the governor for the Eid-el-Kabir festival at the Government House, Maiduguri, said his host was always paying regular visits to the frontlines, interacting with troops and boosting their morales.
Yahaya, who was in company with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, said, “From your (Zulum’s) visits to troops on the ground many times, even to several isolated and probably not too secure environments, you have always been there. Every time you have gone, it has gingered and boosted our morale, including also all the support you have been providing to our operations and activities.
“We can only thank and appreciate His Excellency, the executive governor of Borno State for all the support that he has been providing for us in operation Hadin Kai and even before when it was operation Lafiya Dole and all along.”
Responding, Zulum thanked the service chiefs and their troops for their sacrifices. He said he hadnoted continued improvement in the relationship between the military and the civilian authorities, while urging the military to remain in close collaboration with the state government in order to defeat the decade long insurgency in the northeast.
Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, who spoke on behalf of the legislators, assured the military of support and cooperative working relationship with the governor, towards attainment of lofty goals.
However, on behalf of the state executive council, Borno’s Attorney General and Commissioner forJustice, Barrister Kaka-Shehu Lawan, assured the people of commitment to Zulum’s vision.
Secretary of Borno Elders Forum, Dr. Bulama Mali Gubio, also assured the governor of the support from elders in Borno’s match towards full restoration of peace.
