Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has called on President Bola Tinubu to prioritize direct engagement with military leaders and reject sycophantic advice in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency operations.
Speaking during an interview with News Central on Tuesday, May 20, Zulum warned that misinformation from comfort-seeking advisers is hampering national security efforts in the Northeast.
“Our problems are one: sycophancy. People don’t say the right thing, they stay in their comfort zones trying to give misinformation and miscommunication,” Zulum stated.
The governor urged Tinubu to consult directly with the Nigerian Army, praising their expertise and commitment. He revealed the Chief of Army Staff’s proposal for government-to-government arms procurement: “He said he doesn’t want a kobo to be given to him in terms of equipment. Let the Federal Government deal directly with other nations.”
Zulum criticized bureaucratic delays in defense acquisitions, advocating for depoliticized processes: “We should remove democracy from the procurement of military hardware and software,” suggesting joint funding by state and federal governments.
Zulum expressed confidence in security forces: “The president should also listen to [the Army] and have a meeting with them. I’ve seen zeal and commitment from them as well as from the intelligence community.”
The governor’s intervention highlights growing calls for strategy reassessment as Nigeria’s 14-year insurgency persists.