Borno Losing Ground to Boko Haram: A Nation in Denial, a Governor in Distress

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

In a chilling cry that cuts through the numb silence of a weary nation, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has once again lamented the relentless assault of Boko Haram, warning that his state—once a bastion of resistance against terrorism—is gradually losing ground to the insurgents. His words are not only a cry for help but also a damning indictment of a nation that has normalized tragedy, desensitized itself to carnage, and continues to gamble with the blood of its citizens.

This is not a new story. It is the same tale of bloodshed, displacement, and despair—only now, it is resurfacing with greater urgency. In Governor Zulum’s own words, “The resurgence of Boko Haram in parts of Borno is deeply worrisome. We cannot continue to pretend that all is well.” These are not the empty complaints of a politician seeking attention. They are the warnings of a leader on the frontline, who sees firsthand what Abuja refuses to confront: the war against terrorism is far from over, and Nigeria is losing it—again.

A False Sense of Victory

In 2015, the All Progressives Congress (APC) rode to power on the back of promises to defeat Boko Haram, eradicate corruption, and stabilize the economy. A decade later, the group remains active, its factions—particularly the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)—now more organized, more brutal, and more entrenched. In December 2020, the United Nations estimated that over 36,000 people had been killed in the conflict, with more than 2 million displaced in the Northeast. Those numbers have only grown, with over 11 million people now in need of humanitarian assistance in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states as of 2024.

While successive administrations have claimed to have “technically defeated” Boko Haram, the ground reality paints a starkly different picture. Boko Haram continues to operate freely in parts of southern Borno, Sambisa Forest, and the Lake Chad Basin. Just last month, insurgents overran military positions in Guzamala and attacked communities in Gwoza, killing civilians and security personnel alike. These are not isolated incidents; they are coordinated, strategic offensives designed to reestablish territorial dominance.

Zulum: The Lone Voice in the Wilderness
Governor Zulum’s courage in speaking out deserves national commendation. Unlike many of his counterparts who wallow in silence or peddle the central government’s propaganda, Zulum has consistently challenged the federal security architecture, demanding more boots on the ground, better intelligence sharing, and genuine political will.

In April 2024, during a security meeting in Maiduguri, Zulum warned that Boko Haram fighters were regrouping and that displaced persons living in IDP camps could not return to their ancestral homes due to insecurity. “Our soldiers are overwhelmed,” he stated. “Without increased federal support, we risk losing everything we’ve fought for in the last 10 years.”

Indeed, Nigeria spends over ₦2 trillion annually on defense, yet the country remains one of the most terrorized in the world. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2024, Nigeria remains in the top 10 of countries most affected by terrorism. Despite enormous budget allocations, corruption, poor accountability, and bureaucratic incompetence have rendered Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy toothless.

The Consequences of Failure
The implications of Borno losing ground to Boko Haram are staggering. First, it spells humanitarian catastrophe. Over 700,000 children in Borno State alone face severe malnutrition, and if access to remote areas becomes even more restricted, the death toll from hunger could soon rival that from bullets.

Second, it undermines national security. The resurgence of terrorism in the Northeast could embolden other armed groups in the Northwest and Northcentral—bandits, kidnappers, and separatist militias—thus plunging the country into further anarchy. In a nation already teetering on the edge, Borno’s descent into lawlessness could trigger a chain reaction of state failures.

Third, it discredits Nigeria’s international reputation. The country has received significant support from international allies, including the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations. Yet, donor fatigue is setting in. The world is growing tired of helping a government that appears unwilling—or unable—to help itself. Nigeria risks becoming the poster child of wasted aid and lost hope.

Abuja Must Wake Up
The federal government can no longer afford to downplay Zulum’s warnings. His alarm should prompt a total reevaluation of Nigeria’s security framework. The Nigerian Army, overstretched and under-equipped, cannot continue to bear this burden alone. There must be a comprehensive approach that includes:

Decentralization of Security: State policing and community defense structures must be legalized and properly regulated. The centralization of security under Abuja has failed. It is time to empower state and local authorities to take charge of their regions.

Intelligence-Driven Warfare: Technology, surveillance drones, and real-time intelligence must be the cornerstone of military operations. Boko Haram’s movements should not come as a surprise in the era of satellite monitoring and AI-powered tracking.

Cutting Off Financing: Boko Haram sustains itself through extortion, illegal taxation of farmers, and foreign funding. The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) must be empowered to aggressively trace and freeze terrorist-linked accounts.

Rehabilitation and Reintegration: While military force is essential, so too is de-radicalization. The failure of Nigeria’s past reintegration programs stems from the absence of post-release monitoring, community engagement, and economic reinsertion. Ex-combatants must be tracked and employed, not released into the shadows.

Conclusion: A Nation at the Crossroads
Governor Zulum has laid bare the uncomfortable truth that many at the top are unwilling to hear: Borno is slipping, and with it, Nigeria is unraveling. This is not the time for political spin or cosmetic reforms. This is the time for radical honesty, brave leadership, and urgent action.

As citizens, we must amplify Zulum’s voice. As intellectuals, we must dissect the systemic failures that brought us here. And as a nation, we must decide: are we going to keep pretending that Nigeria is safe while Borno burns? Or are we going to rise, confront the monster of terror head-on, and reclaim our land?

History will not be kind to those who watched in silence while Borno bled. And if we fail to act now, the lament of Zulum today will become the requiem of Nigeria tomorrow.

Hotel Boss Slaughtered in Cold Blood: Akure Socialite Adesoji Adeleye Assassinated in His Sleep

Terror struck the heart of Akure in the early hours of Tuesday as popular hotelier and socialite, Adesoji Johnson Adeleye, was gruesomely murdered by suspected assassins inside his hotel.

Adeleye, the Chief Executive Officer of Klass Five Hotel, was reportedly attacked and killed in one of the rooms of his hotel, located in the bustling Arakale area of the Ondo State capital.

According to multiple sources, the well-known businessman was preparing for the day’s activities when armed men gained access to the hotel premises under mysterious circumstances. What followed, witnesses say, was a savage attack that left the city reeling.

The assailants reportedly stabbed him multiple times and smashed his skull with a mortar, leaving him in a pool of blood. His lifeless body was discovered hours later, sparking panic and confusion within the community and hospitality circles.

A close associate of the deceased told LEADERSHIP that he had spent the previous evening with Adeleye and was shocked to wake up to the devastating news.

“We were together on Monday night. He had no enemies as far as we knew. He told me we’d see again today. Now, I’m getting calls that he’s dead,” the associate said in disbelief.

Security operatives from the Ondo State Police Command swiftly responded to the report, cordoned off the scene, and moved the body to the morgue. The police also began questioning hotel staff and persons within the vicinity.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alexander Olayinka, confirmed the incident, describing the murder as a targeted killing.

“We have dispatched a team of detectives to the crime scene. Preliminary findings suggest it was a well-planned assassination,” Olayinka stated. “The case has now been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet and thorough investigation.”

Residents and business owners in Akure have expressed fear and outrage over the brutal killing, demanding swift justice and better security in the area.

As police intensify their manhunt for the perpetrators, many questions remain unanswered: Who wanted Adesoji Adeleye dead—and why?

Nigeria Is Sinking—Or Has Already Sank—Because It Has Never Had a True Natural Activist as President

*By George Omagbemi Sylvester*

Since independence (1960) till date, Nigeria has been governed by a long list of military rulers turned democrats, political opportunists, and power brokers driven more by ambition than by activism. The country is not just sinking; many would argue it has already sank. A nation so richly blessed with human and natural resources, yet so tragically mismanaged, has one fundamental and recurring flaw: Nigeria has never been led by a true, passionate, people-driven, natural activist as President. Not once. And this absence of authentic patriotic activism at the helm of affairs is the root cause of Nigeria’s perpetual regression.

Who is a Natural Activist?
A natural activist is not a professional politician who discovered “the people” after tasting the perks of power.
A natural activist is someone whose life is built around advocacy for justice, equity, development, and the empowerment of the masses. It’s someone who has consistently sacrificed personal comfort for the good of the collective, even before entering political office.
Let us think of the likes of Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso, Patrice Lumumba of Congo, or Nelson Mandela of South Africa—leaders who governed with the people in mind because their lives had already been a protest against injustice.

Nigeria’s Political Landscape: Bereft of Natural Activists From the first republic to the current dispensation, Nigeria has recycled a class of rulers disconnected from the pulse of the people.

While the names may change—Obasanjo, Buhari, Jonathan, Yar’Adua, Tinubu—the blueprint remains the same: politicking for personal gain, ethnic consolidation of power, and absolute disregard for the poor. Let us break it down.

– **Obasanjo (1976–79, 1999–2007)**: A former military general who returned as a “democrat,” Obasanjo’s second coming was marred by privatization scandals, excessive debt accumulation, and the infamous third-term agenda. Though praised for some macroeconomic stability, his administration hardly addressed the root causes of poverty and corruption. He was more of a power tactician than a people’s advocate.

– **Yar’Adua (2007–2010)**: A gentleman by all standards, yet not a natural activist. His brief tenure showed flashes of reform, but his political ascendancy was rooted in elite arrangements, not mass movement or public-driven ideals.

– **Goodluck Jonathan (2010–2015)**: A man who rose from a humble background, yes—but not an activist. His failure to confront corruption, his helplessness during the Boko Haram insurgency, and his excessive tolerance of inefficiency revealed a man unprepared to challenge the rot of the system he inherited.

– **Muhammadu Buhari (1983–1985, 2015–2023)**: Widely promoted as a man of integrity, Buhari’s civilian tenure will go down as one of the most economically devastating and socially polarizing in Nigerian history. Inflation soared, naira collapsed, insecurity worsened, and public institutions eroded under his watch. Activism was never his nature—discipline perhaps, but not a people-centered agenda.

– **Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2023–present)**: A political godfather and master strategist, Tinubu’s presidency has been about consolidation of political debts and patronage, not grassroots reform. Nigerians continue to suffer under the yoke of fuel subsidy removal without palliative alternatives, with worsening inflation, rising unemployment, and a sense of national directionlessness.

Why Activism Matters in Leadership Activism births empathy.
A true activist understands the hunger of the market woman, the hopelessness of the unemployed graduate, and the despair of the displaced family in the northeast. Activists don’t need a think tank to tell them what Nigerians need—they have lived it, fought for it, and been jailed for it. That moral conviction is missing in Nigeria’s leadership class. Instead, what we have are career politicians, most of whom see the state as a cash cow.

PDP: The Best Democratic Structure Nigeria Has Ever Had Despite its flaws and internal contradictions, the **People’s Democratic Party (PDP)** remains the best political structure Nigeria has ever produced in the democratic era. Its national outlook, internal zoning principles, commitment to electoral processes (especially under INEC leadership like Prof. Attahiru Jega’s during Jonathan’s era), and relatively peaceful transfers of power demonstrate a level of maturity the APC has never possessed. PDP is not perfect. It has harbored corrupt elements and mismanaged certain opportunities. But it has shown more commitment to democratic ideals than the APC, which has demonstrated autocratic tendencies, media repression, and election manipulation. Under PDP, Nigeria experienced her longest stretch of uninterrupted democracy (1999–2015), enjoyed debt relief, and implemented vital reforms in telecommunications, banking, and agriculture. Even under Goodluck Jonathan—often criticized for his slow pace—the country experienced freedom of speech, judicial independence, and a peaceful concession of defeat in the 2015 election. This singular act elevated Nigeria’s democratic image worldwide.

The Cost of Not Having an Activist-President

Here’s what Nigeria has suffered by not having a natural activist in Aso Rock:
1. **Corruption as Culture**: With no president ready to risk popularity for reform, corruption has become institutionalized. From inflated contracts to oil theft, leaders often turn a blind eye.
2. **Insecurity**: A true activist understands that every Nigerian life matters—Christian or Muslim, Hausa or Igbo, rich or poor. Instead, our leaders respond to crises with committees and condolence tweets.
3. **Brain Drain**: The mass emigration of young Nigerians (“Japa”) is a direct consequence of failed leadership. Youths no longer see a future in a country where hard work is not rewarded and where dreams are constantly suffocated.
4. **Economic Collapse**: With inflation at record highs, unemployment skyrocketing, and the naira in freefall, one wonders how long Nigeria can survive. An activist-president would prioritize local industry, cut government waste, and protect the poor—not travel the world seeking loans while public universities are closed for months.
5. **Loss of National Identity**: Tribalism, religious bigotry, and ethnic chauvinism have replaced national unity. A true activist leader would rise above ethnic sentiments and unite the nation with a common purpose.

What Nigeria Needs Nigeria doesn’t need another politician in agbada with empty campaign slogans. It needs a leader who feels the pain of the people—deeply and personally. Someone who has *fought* for the people, not just *spoken* to them. We need an activist-president who is not afraid to call out the elite, challenge the status quo, and lead reforms that may upset the powerful but uplift the powerless. Until then, Nigeria will continue to oscillate between failure and disaster. We need a president who sees Aso Rock not as a throne of privilege but a platform for purposeful struggle

Nigeria is where it is today—sinking, or perhaps already submerged—because its leaders have lacked the authenticity, empathy, and passion that only natural activists possess.

No nation can rise above the quality of its leadership. We’ve had generals, technocrats, politicians, and businessmen. What we haven’t had is an activist—someone who fights for the people before, during, and after power.

It is time for Nigerians to rethink leadership.
We must demand more than polished grammar and political propaganda.
We must demand passion, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to justice.
Only then can we begin to pull this nation from the depths of despair.

Until such a leader emerges, we may continue to shout “Up NEPA” as if it’s a privilege to have light in 2025. And that, fellow Nigerians, is the greatest embarrassment of all. —