By Madu Mohammed, Maiduguri
Borno state governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum has declared Monday, February 24, 2020 for statewide fasting and prayers to combine with intensified offensive by Nigeria’ military and volunteer forces against Boko Haram insurgency and the culprits in complicity to conspiracy.
Zulum made the declaration at the weekend, in a six-minute broadcast to the people of Borno State. “Let us pray to Him (Allah SWT) with the purest intention, total devotion, submission and unwavering faith (against insurgency and the culprits complacency to insurgency,)”he appealed
Zulum urged both Muslims and Christians faithful to fast and pray, seeking for Divine intervention to ending the decade of insurgency.
Zulum lamented that the insurgents have of recent assumed serial guerilla attacks on communities in different parts of Borno state with the latest in Chibok on Tuesday following that of Auno last Sunday.
Zulum while revealing the ongoing collaboration with the military, recruitments, equipping and deployment of thousands of volunteer Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes, said his call for prayers could seem strange, it was however necessary hearkening to the popular wish of Borno people.
“Even though this decision is based on the popular demand of our people, some observers may rightly argue that it is a strange call. But then, Borno has been befallen with a strange evil since 2009, and sometimes, strange ailments require strange approaches.
“As your Governor, I hereby declare Monday the 24th of February 2020 as a day of devotion to pray for the return of peace in Borno. I intend to fast on that day and I appeal to every one of us in Borno, who can, to join in that simple, but pricelessly rewarding spiritual endeavour. I also appeal for the sacrifices of all other well-meaning friends and associates of Borno who can, to join us in fasting on Monday, insha’Allah, for the restoration of peace in Borno State and the rest of Nigeria.
“I urge all of us to be steadfast in prayers. But in doing that, we certainly do not need to congregate in open fields for dramas.. It would also not matter whether we are within or outside Borno State and whether we are at work places, markets or not. There will be no public holiday, after all, God shall answer our prayers everywhere, whether at home or at work.”