Babagana Zulum and Babajide Sanwo-Olu: Are They the Most Functional Governors in Nigeria?

It is basically one of the proverbs in grassroots communities in Nigeria that empty containers make the loudest noise. It is not always true, especially when the container is neither empty nor silent. Nigerian state governors are a case in point. Against the achievements of governors like Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, what do other governors count for?

It is true that both Babas, Zulum and Sanwo-Olu, are not the only governors doing great things for their people. There are a handful of others that are pushing the cart of progress along, bit by bit. But none of these compare to Zulum and Sanwo-Olu in terms of sincerity, vision, and compassion for the common person.

Consider Zulum. Borno is today a battleground. Between banditry on one hand and religio-ethnic conflicts on another, any other governor would be permanently residing in Abuja by now. But not Zulum. He has shown himself to be an ally of the people with one initiative after another. Recently, he set up a unified counterterrorism curriculum for Islamic schools in Borno, thereby securing young people from the radical ideologies of terrorist groups.

And what about Sanwo-Olu? His achievements can be counted for every step from Mushin to the moon. He has touched every sector in the state, from education to health to transportation. He has constructed countless roads, erected numberless schools, and ensured access to facilities of modern life virtually everywhere in Lagos. Let’s not forget what he has done with transportation and the wonder of the Lagos Blue Line Rail.

With Zulum and Sanwo-Olu, one sees two visionaries only interested in the welfare and prosperity of their people. They are hard at work and hitting milestone after milestone. Compared to them, other governors seem to be playing in the sand or learning on the job.