I’ll Never Be a Tyrant! — Fuming Zulum Fire Backs Over ‘Tinubu Must Go’ Arrests

​MAIDUGURI — Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has aggressively distanced himself from the fierce controversy trailing the recent police arrest of five individuals donning “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts in Maiduguri, declaring emphatically that he is no dictator.

​Speaking in Maiduguri on Friday, an obviously infuriated Zulum expressed utter shock that critics and political opponents would attempt to link his office to the crackdown, labeling the insinuation as a cheap, pre-election blackmail orchestrated by desperate elements.

​The arrests, which sparked widespread national condemnation—including fiery backlash from opposition camps like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s camp and the African Democratic Congress (ADC)—drew the governor out of his usual silence to set the record straight.

​“Only Desperate Politicians Order Arrests”

​Hitting hard at his traducers, Zulum maintained that silencing opposition or locking up citizens for exercising free speech runs entirely contrary to his democratic values and personal ethos.

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​“Where were they when we were struggling to see that we had restored peace, resettled IDPs, reconstructed destroyed communities and established schools and hospitals?” an exasperated Zulum queried.

​“Only desperate politicians would order the arrest of opposition supporters. I am not one of them,” he fired back.

​The governor pointed out that Borno has remained a stronghold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for well over a decade, making it illogical and petty for his administration to feel threatened by opposition gimmicks.

​“Why would I order the arrest of anyone on political grounds? Borno has been an APC state for over a decade with no fear of the opposition winning any elective position,” he asserted.

​2027 Approaching: The Season of False Accusations

​Decrying the sudden surge in virulent attacks against his administration, Governor Zulum noted a predictable pattern: individuals who previously praised his government’s relentless developmental strides are suddenly pulling a 180-degree turn as the 2027 general elections approach.

​According to him, it has become a recurrent decimal for opportunistic politicians to manufacture false narratives and hurl mud at political officeholders simply to court public sympathy and cheap political attention.

​Recalling the harrowing years of insurgency, the governor noted that he routinely exposed himself to extreme danger on the frontlines just to safeguard all residents of the state—including those now hiding under opposition banners to cast aspersions on his government.

​Unfazed by Distractions

​Despite the political storm whipped up by the ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-shirt saga—which saw security forces clamp down on the protesters for alleged public disturbance—Zulum insisted that his eyes remain glued to the developmental plough.

​He maintained that his ultimate reward comes from God and the appreciation of the masses, vowing that malicious criticisms and coordinated smear campaigns will not distract him from completing legacy projects and securing Borno until the very last day of his tenure.