![Popular Small-Size Actress Aunty Ajara Dies After Liver Illness [VIDEO]](https://thepunchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20241109_125042-75x75.jpg)
Monarch hails governor’s reforms, promises to attract investors to the state
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has lauded the scenic landscape and vast agricultural potential of Borno State, declaring that the state has the capacity to feed the entire nation.
The monarch made the remarks on Friday evening in Maiduguri during a private meeting with Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, at the Government House.
Speaking at the meeting, the Ooni described Governor Zulum as a true reformer and a shining example of transformative leadership, praising his commitment to rebuilding the state after years of insecurity.
“I like what you are doing. I am very proud of you. I want to come closer to you,” the Ooni said. “I have been a fan of yours for a long time. You are a role model to many young people in this country.”
He assured the governor and the people of Borno that he would actively encourage investors to explore opportunities in the state, particularly in agriculture.
“I am now an advocate. I will tell people to come and invest. I saw a vast amount of land, arable for all kinds of farming. This state can indeed feed the entire country,” he added.
The Ooni further commended Zulum’s passion for Maiduguri and the broader development drive across the state, noting that his visit gave him a new appreciation of Borno’s beauty.
“You have always been passionate about Maiduguri, and I used to ask myself, ‘What is it about Maiduguri?’ But today, I see why you always run back here. I felt it the moment I arrived. Honestly speaking, Borno is a beautiful state.”
He also spoke on the deep historical and ancestral ties between the Yoruba and Kanuri people, describing them as close relatives linked by blood and history.
“For me, as a traditional ruler from Ife, the Kanuris are our cousins. We are blood relatives—very strongly so. I am a student of history, and I understand our deep connections and affiliations,” he said.
Responding, Governor Zulum expressed profound gratitude for the Ooni’s visit and for accepting the appointment as Chancellor of Kashim Ibrahim University, Maiduguri. He described the monarch as a unifying national figure and a strong advocate of cultural heritage and national cohesion.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustainable development, peace, and post-conflict recovery in Borno State.
The Ooni of Ife, who is also the Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), was in Maiduguri to attend the combined convocation ceremony of the state-owned Kashim Ibrahim University.
Photo caption: Governor Babagana Zulum welcomes the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, at the Government House in Maiduguri. Credit: Borno State Government.
