Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has denied ordering the arrest of people expressing the slogan “Tinubu Must Go”, saying his warning was directed at criminals and individuals whose activities could threaten peace and security in the state.
Zulum’s clarification followed a statement by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, which demanded an explanation over a viral video in which the governor was alleged to have ordered the arrest and detention of anyone found expressing opposition to President Bola Tinubu.
The ADC campaign council had questioned the governor’s reported remarks, particularly because Zulum had previously denied ordering the arrest of people wearing “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts in Borno.
In a statement signed by its Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the campaign council asked Zulum to explain the contents of the video and reconcile them with his earlier denial.
Responding on Sunday night, Zulum’s spokesman, Dauda Iliya, rejected the allegation and accused the ADC of misrepresenting the governor’s remarks.
Iliya described the campaign council’s statement as “unprofessional” and said it was based on what he called an improperly reported account of the governor’s comments.
He said Zulum made the remarks during a media interaction with journalists in Maiduguri while discussing several issues, including a rise in social vices and criminal activities that the government considered threats to peace and stability in the state.
According to Iliya, the governor was referring to young people allegedly moving around with shirts displaying images of knives and clubs and portraying violence.
He said Borno experienced an increase in gangsterism, kidnapping of underage girls, illegal abortions, phone snatching and other social vices following years of Boko Haram insurgency.
Iliya said the state government consequently established an Anti-Vices security outfit to tackle such activities.
He claimed that the security initiative had contributed to a reduction in social vices and criminal activity in Maiduguri and surrounding areas.
The governor’s spokesman maintained that Zulum did not mention the #TinubuMustGo group, the ADC or any opposition political organisation during the media engagement.
“Governor Zulum never mentioned the #TinubuMustGo group, ADC, or any opposition group; he spoke only about security, peace, and order,” Iliya said.
He further argued that the ADC had misinterpreted the governor’s remarks by connecting them to political opposition.
Iliya also accused the campaign council of making what he described as a “self-indicting” statement by linking itself to the groups discussed by the governor.
“By issuing that statement, the ADC appears to be taking responsibility for the crimes committed by these groups across the state,” he said.
The spokesman said the Zulum administration would not allow activities capable of undermining Borno’s security gains, regardless of the political season.
He stressed that political parties would require a stable environment to campaign and participate in elections.
“As a responsible government, Prof. Zulum’s administration will not allow the state’s hard-earned peace to be truncated; for without order and stability, no party can campaign for any election,” Iliya said.
He urged political actors and critics to exercise restraint when discussing security issues in Borno, pointing to the state’s experience with more than a decade of insurgency.
Iliya said political disagreements should not undermine efforts to maintain peace and stability in the state.
“Even in campaign seasons, there ought to be restraint and responsibility. Considering where Borno has come from, the least one would expect from the ADC is to join the call to ensure that nothing tampers with the recent peace and stability achieved under the administration of Gov. Zulum,” the statement said.
The dispute centres on the interpretation of Zulum’s comments in the viral video. While the ADC linked the remarks to the “Tinubu Must Go” slogan, the governor’s spokesman maintains that the comments were directed at criminal activities and groups threatening public order, not opposition politicians or protesters.
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