Engr. Muhammad Zarma
Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Nigeria, has become like an enigma as one of the Nigerians most famous modern political figures. Elected first in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, Zulum’s national prominence transcended the traditional mold of Nigerian politics. While many political elites attract fame through luxury and conventional party alignment, Zulum’s widespread popularity stems from his active, frontline style of governance under extreme challenges, conflicts and crisis.
What made him popular and famous? Fame is driven by an intentional, high-visibility approach to governance that contrasts sharply with the actions of many of his peers. The core drivers of his popularity may be attributed to so many things but some of the outstanding traits and characteristics are;
1 Frontline Leadership and “Showing Up”
Prof Zulum gained national attention by refusing to govern exclusively from the safety of the government house in Maiduguri, His schedule was so erratic and a routinely so stretched that he travels to high-risk, volatile local government areas to supervise aid distribution with very limited assess to security. He has famously ordered his motorcade to halt in rural areas to give rides and financial support to ordinary citizens walking long distances
2. Unannounced “Midnight” Inspections
A major catalyst for his viral fame is his habit of paying surprise visits to public institutions. Prof Zulum frequently shows up at hospitals and schools at midnight or dawn to catch absentee workers. Finding hospitals without doctors on duty or schools with missing teachers, he has publicly disciplined negligent officials while instantly promoting and rewarding those found doing their duties diligently
3. Boldness and Plain Speaking
Unlike conventional politicians, Prof Zulum is widely respected for his blunt honesty. He has openly criticized the federal military hierarchy during security lapses, challenged corrupt officials to their faces, and publicly declared that he became a governor “by coincidence” rather than out of desperate political ambition
4. Massive post-Conflict-Reconstruction
Managing a state ravaged by over a decade of insurgency, Prof Zulum’s administrative output has earned praise from bodies like the World Bank, UN, UNESCO and many other bodies both local and internationally. His governance record includes:
i. Resettling over 2 million displaced residents back into safer communities.
ii. Constructing over 200 mega-primary and secondary schools.
iii. Executing more than 600 distinct capital projects, including healthcare facilities and major urban housing units
5. Background and Personal Integrity
His personal story from a humble background resonates deeply with the populace. Before politics, he worked as a commercial driver to pay for his education, eventually becoming a Professor of Agricultural Engineering at the University of Maiduguri, later a rector at the state polytechnic.
During his prior tenure as Borno’s Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement (RRR), his predecessor noted that despite handling billions of Naira to rebuild communities, Prof Zulum famously did not use the funds to enrich himself, rather dedicate it to the purpose to which it is meant to be
Conclusion
In conclusion, Professor Babagana Zulum achieved fame because he brought a hands-on, academic rigor and high-stakes bravery to a political landscape often criticized for inertia.
While his uncompromising, top-down style attracts occasional criticism, his deep empathy, structural transparency, and refusal to abandon volatile communities have solidified his status as one of Nigeria’s most popular and respected leaders.
Engr Muhammad Zarma writes from Maiduguri.