11th April, 2020
Governor of Borno, Babagana Zulum has felicitated with Christians in Borno and other parts of the country on the occasion of Easter, urging them to sustain their prayers and other precautions to end coronavirus.
The governor in a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau in Borno on Saturday, also called for prayers to end insurgency which he nicknamed “Convid-2009” in view of killings carried out by insurgents, particularly at its peak in 2009.
“I warmly felicitate with our Christian brothers and sisters in Borno State and beyond at Easter which is a season we should recognise and imbibe selfless sacrifices and renew our hopes and convictions.
“While wishing all Christians a happy and memorable Easter, I share the pain, that the important Easter is being celebrated at a time Nigeria, like many parts of the world, is battling to contain a pandemic caused by coronavirus disease.
“Borno State government will remain relentless in fighting this dangerous and highly contagious disease through strict preventive and responsive measures,” he said.
The governor advised that the fight against the pandemic should not distract the world to lose focus on the fight against insurgency.
“The Boko Haram is equally contagious through the spread of violent ideologies and links with terror groups around the world.
“It is also contagious by creating permanent fear and agonies for millions of people. We cannot afford to be distracted.
“We must be simultaneous and consistent in applying and sustaining tough measures against coronavirus and ‘Covid-2009’.
“With their proven evil mindset, Boko Haram insurgents would expect us to be carried away with coronavirus so they can exploit the situation to make Covid-2009 worse than it already is. We must never let this happen,” Zulum pleaded.