Zulum swears in 2 commissioners, judicial council member

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, presided over the swearing in of the two recently appointed commissioners and a member of Borno State Judicial Council Commission.

Justice Kashim Zannah, the Chief Judge of Borno State, administered the oath of office and allegiance in an event held on Wednesday at the Government House in Maiduguri.

The sworn-in officials include Engr. Mohammed Habib and Ibrahim Hala Hassan as commissioners, while Alhaji Abba Sadiq was sworn in as a member of Borno State Judicial Council Commission.

In his address, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum warned against complacency in discharging their duties.

“Let me remind the new commissioners that your appointments to the State Executive Council is a testament to your exceptional capabilities and the immense value we place on your expertise. With this honour, however, comes a profound responsibility to deliver on our promises to the good people of Borno State. We trust that you will bring your wealth of experience, knowledge, skills and innovative thinking to bear in your new roles”, Zulum said.

He added, “as Honourable Commissioners, you shoulder a weighty mandate. The formulation and effective implementation of Government policies and programmes rest squarely on your leadership. To succeed, you must embrace an inclusive approach, fostering collaboration, building strong teams and recognizing the contributions of every stakeholder.”

According to the governor, “the people of Borno State rightfully hold high expectations for your performance. Mediocrity or low quality output will not be tolerated. In service to our dear state, personal affiliations must never overshadow our commitment to excellence.”

“You must formally work in line with the Borno State 25-Year Development Plan and 10-Year Strategic Transformation Initiative. Your performance will be rigorously assessed against measurable benchmarks and accountability will remain non-negotiable. Suffice to say that you have my full assurance that this administration will provide you with the necessary support, resources and tools to excel in your duties.”

Meanwhile, Governor Zulum has commended the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon Abdulkarim Lawan, and the Chief Judge of Borno State, Kashim Zannah, for maintaining cordial relationship with the executive arm.

“let me extend my sincere appreciation to Mr Speaker and Honorable Members of Borno State House of Assembly for the cordial and productive relationship between the Executive and Legislature. Your dedication to the principles of good governance and collaborative leadership has been instrumental in advancing our collective vision for a prosperous Borno State”, Zulum said.

“I also wish to express my profound gratitude to the judiciary for the existing harmonious relationship with the executive arm of government. Your commitment to justice, fairness and the rule of law has strengthened our democracy and reinforced the confidence of our people in the institutions of governance”, the governor stated.

Speaking earlier, Secretary to Borno State Government, Hon. Bukar Tijani, noted the tremendous achievements and progress of the Zulum administration in transforming the lives of Borno people.

Also speaking on behalf of the sworn-in colleagues, Engr. Mohammed Habib expressed gratitude to the governor while giving assurance of their commitment towards achieving the administration’s goal.

Zulum swears in 2 commissioners, judicial council member

Zulum Appoints Professor Balami as Chair, Secondary Education Board

By: Kayode Bodunrin

Governor Babagana Zulum has appointed Professor Yusuf Gana Balami as the Executive Chairman of Borno State Secondary Education Board.

Balami, a Professor of Education Psychology, hails from Hawul, in the Southern senatorial zone of the state.

He had a short stint with the Borno State Ministry of Education between 1984 and 1988, before later proceeding to the University of Maiduguri as graduate assistant where he started his career as an academic which later culminated into him becoming a Professor in 2014.

Prof Balami is a member of several Professional bodies and has authored several publications as lead author or co-author.

While congratulating Professor Balami Zulum urged him to deploy his years of experience in the education sector, both as an administrator and an academic, in reshaping the quality of secondary education in Borno.

His appointment has since been communicated to the Borno State House of Assembly for confirmation.

Zulum Appoints Professor Balami as Chair, Secondary Education Board

Amnesty International must stop defending dangerous falsehoods in the name of free speech

By: Zagazola Makama

Once again, Amnesty International has taken a predictable but deeply troubling stance, this time, condemning the lawful detention of a social media influencer, Ghali Isma’il, who is facing charges over a false and provocative video announcing the death of Nigeria’s sitting President. In its hasty and one-sided statement, Amnesty labeled the Department of State Services’ (DSS) action as “a clear demonstration of abuse of power.” This knee-jerk condemnation reeks not only of bias but of a dangerous disregard for the responsibility that comes with free speech.

It’s important to remember that the Nigerian authorities are acting within the bounds of the law. Ghali Isma’il appeared before a competent magistrate and is being tried for spreading false information an issue of concern to public safety and stability. The viral video claiming the President’s death by poisoning, however unfounded and provocative, point to the need for responsible speech, especially in a period when misinformation can quickly escalate tensions or cause panic.

Let’s be clear: no one is above the law. Isma’il was not whisked away to a secret cell. He was arraigned before a competent magistrate court in Abuja and is being tried according to the laws of the land. The charges spreading false information with intent to cause public alarm and inciting disaffection against the government are not political fabrications.

They are legitimate concerns, especially when tied to a video falsely claiming that President Bola Tinubu had died after being poisoned, and presented with an air of certainty that could spark panic in a country already battling complex security and economic challenges.

If this is what Amnesty International classifies as “freedom of expression,” then the organization must clarify where it draws the line between speech and sabotage. Are we now to accept that individuals can publish death hoaxes about national leaders and peddle wild, fabricated conspiracy theories under the guise of digital activism? Would Amnesty extend this same compassion if the target were a leader in Europe or America?

Is it truly free speech when falsehoods threaten public order or incite unrest? Would Amnesty International hold the same stance if similar misinformation targeted leaders in other parts of the world? These are complex issues with no easy answers, but it is crucial that we weigh the right to expression against the potential harm caused by reckless or deliberately false content.

Let us also not forget that this is not Ghali Isma’il’s first brush with dangerous disinformation. He has repeatedly posted bizarre claims including that former U.S. President Donald Trump was compelling Nigeria to repatriate terrorists into the country and quoting the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tugger, who never mentioned such in his interview. Yusuf said they are ex- convict from Venezuela but Ismail, said they are “Terrorists” . When does free speech become reckless speech? When does falsehood become a threat to national peace and cohesion? This calls for a measured discussion on when speech crosses into dangerous territory especially when it influences public perception and stability.

Moreover, one must ask: where was Amnesty International when ISWAP terrorists released gruesome videos of mass executions? Where was Amnesty when bandits kidnapped and murdered citizens or when IPOB loyalists torched police stations and killed security personnel? The silence or muted response from Amnesty International in those cases raises questions about consistency and priorities. Their silence in the face of these atrocities is deafening. Yet, whenever the Nigerian state acts to preserve order and prevent chaos, Amnesty rushes in with a press release always siding with the provocateur.

Ultimately, the right to free speech must be exercised responsibly. Supporting lawful limits when speech could threaten national peace isn’t a contradiction to human rights but a recognition of their importance in a complex society.

Amnesty International faces an important question: will it stand as a defender of genuine human rights and democratic stability, or does it risk becoming a platform that inadvertently enables disinformation that jeopardizes it?

This double standard is becoming increasingly apparent to Nigerians. The right to free speech must be protected, yes but it must also be exercised with responsibility. Defending lies that threaten national unity under the cloak of human rights advocacy is not activism; it is sabotage.

Amnesty International must decide: is it here to protect Nigeria’s democracy or to shield those who exploit social media to endanger it?

Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad Region

Amnesty International must stop defending dangerous falsehoods in the name of free speech