By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

Northern based Coalition of Civil Society Organisations have dismissed allegations of religious discrimination and fraud against Borno State Governor, Alhaji Babagana Umara Zulum.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State was accused of deliberately excluding Christians in the state from the Federal Government palliatives and assistance brought to the state, including the N3billion given by President Bola Tinubu to help those whose family members were killed by Boko Haram insurgents and other terrorists in the state.

While reacting to what it termed, “concocted false and misleading” allegations levelled against the Governor ,the CSOs in a statement jointly signed by Chairman and Secretary,Comrade Musa Abdullahi Danbatta and Comrade Yusuf Ibrahim Kudan, the CSOs stated that ” it’s quite unfortunate to promote acrimony and religious division in Borno state.”

“We are deeply worried about the tension being stirred up by the religious group , especially about a dispassionate Governor, widely known across the country for his hard working disposition and commitment to tackle prolonged menace of Boko Haram Insurgency in the State.”

“At this critical period , we expect Leaders , whether religious, political or traditional to always talk more on issues that promote and unite people than those that create cracks and division.”

“It is in the public domain that Governor Zulum has carved a niche for himself as a leader with passion for progress and development of Borno State with no any bias.”

“We can authoritatively defend Zulum as an individual who demonstrated high sense of fairness ,justice and equity with the distribution or state resources since he assumed office as Governor of the State.”

” We recall that the governor during his inaugural speech promised to promote unity and work with all stakeholders for the development of the state and he has been visibly doing exactly that. “

The forum acknowledged that the Governor managed state funds judiciously and there was equitable distribution of palliatives and assistance to victims of Boko Haram Insurgency and disaster over the years .

“His policy formulation and initiatives have always being targeted towards financial viability of Borno State in revenue generation and expenditure,” they added.