Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has urged Nigerians to remain patient with the federal government’s efforts to address insecurity, poverty and other challenges.

Mr Zulum made the call on Sunday in Kaduna shortly after an engagement meeting with Northern Nigerian women Ulama and Islamic scholars.

He said Northern leaders had resolved to support President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid, with an understanding that power would return to the north afterwards.

The governor said the decision aimed to promote unity and sustain peaceful coexistence between Northern and Southern Nigeria.

“About five years ago, we decided to ensure unity in Northern Nigeria, and we have achieved our objective,” Mr Zulum said.

He said the North had supported the emergence of Mr Tinubu, stressing that political understanding between the two regions should be sustained.

Mr Zulum said northern leaders were committed to fulfilling promises made to southern leaders concerning power rotation.

He urged Nigerians to support the president’s administration and allow it to consolidate its policies and programmes.

According to him, northern leaders had discussed security, out-of-school children and poverty during a meeting with northern elites.

He said the meeting produced far-reaching decisions to address the region’s challenges and improve the well-being of its people.

Mr Zulum said the engagement with women Ulama aimed to promote unity, peace and understanding across the country.

He urged the women to take the messages from the meeting back to their respective states and communities.

The governor said women had a critical role to play in achieving peace, noting their influence in families and communities.

“Women should be given the opportunity to nurture their children so they can live in peace,” he said.

Mr Zulum said peace remained the major desire of people in Northern Nigeria, adding that residents continued to pray for an end to insecurity.

He urged women to exercise patience, saying Islamic teachings recognised patience as essential whenever people were confronted with trials.

“Whenever God tests us with a trial, patience is necessary before relief comes,” he said.

The governor said politics should not undermine peaceful coexistence, noting that northern leaders had previously supported Southern Nigeria after benefiting from political power.

He recalled that Northern leaders had negotiated political understanding with their southern counterparts, based on mutual support and power rotation.

Mr Zulum said the north should patiently allow the south to complete its tenure, while working together to determine the region’s political future.

“I speak from the heart, not out of fear of anyone, but in the name of God,” he said.

He expressed optimism that justice would prevail and urged Nigerians to work together to address areas requiring improvement.

Mr Zulum commended the organisers for convening the women Ulama meeting, describing it as important for strengthening peace and unity.

He urged participants to replicate similar engagements in their states, particularly by mobilising women towards peaceful coexistence.

The governor said women accounted for a significant proportion of votes in Borno, estimating that they constituted between 60 and 65 per cent of votes cast.

He therefore stressed the importance of women’s participation in efforts to promote peace, unity and responsible political engagement.

(NAN)