Usman K Damboa wrote from Maiduguri.
From the ashes of hardship and years of uncertainty, a leader emerged who transformed pain into purpose and despair into renewed hope. In Prof. Zulum, we have witnessed a rare kind of leadership, one rooted in compassion, strengthened by courage, and guided by genuine love for the people. He did not choose to govern from the comfort of distant offices; instead, he governed from the streets, from IDP camps, from overcrowded classrooms, and from the very hearts of ordinary citizens who needed their voices heard.
His leadership has never been about titles or applause, but about service and sacrifice. At moments when many would have turned away, he stood firm, sharing in the suffering of the vulnerable, wiping away silent tears, and restoring confidence to communities broken by conflict. Roads were rebuilt, schools reopened, healthcare revived, and above all, hope once fading was brought back to life.
Honestly, we are not ready to see him go. Leaders like Prof. Zulum are rare gifts to any generation, leaders who listen more than they speak, who act more than they promise, and who place the pain of their people far above their own comfort. Under his stewardship, countless families found reason to smile again, farmers returned to their fields, children returned to learning, and dignity was restored to lives that had almost given up.
He taught us that governance is not about power but about responsibility; not about noise but about impact. Even in the face of threats and challenges, he remained fearless, walking where others hesitated and speaking for those who had no voice. His legacy is written not on billboards but in the hearts of widows supported, youths empowered, and communities rebuilt from ruins.
If it were within our power, we would ask him to continue this sacred journey, because the Borno we see today, the safer, stronger, and more hopeful Borno, is the Borno shaped by his vision, resilience, and sacrifice. Generations yet unborn will read about this chapter with pride, and history will remember him kindly as a leader who came when his people needed him most.
Our prayer is that such selfless, people-centered leadership never departs from our land, and that Prof. Zulum’s example continues to inspire those who will come after him to serve with the same heart, honesty, and unwavering commitment to humanity.
