Arab Countries Don’t Care About Us Despite Sharing Cultural Similarities

Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, says Arab countries have not given support to the state since the Boko Haram insurgency.

For over a decade, Borno and other parts of the north-east have been under attacks by insurgents.

While receiving Saleh Fheied Saleh, Palestinian ambassador to Nigeria on Tuesday, the governor said despite sharing cultural and religious similarities with the Arab countries, only countries from the West have shown concern about the plight of the Borno people.

“I am a practical person. I work with the realities I see on ground. In the face of our challenges over the years, we have received humanitarian support from the UK and other parts of Europe, the United States, Canada, from Japan and a host of others who have demonstrated concern and have made efforts to support our traumatised citizens in many ways especially on food, medicals and livelihoods,” he said.

“However, that level of concern never came from Arab countries with whom millions of Borno people share similarity in religion and culture.

“We even have indigenous Shuwa Arabs in Borno and this shows how our histories are tied. We have made severe efforts, written and visited embassies of Arab countries, especially those that are rich and not dealing with crises, but obviously majority of the Arabs do not care about our situation, neither do they support us. The Arabs have not shown concern to us.

“Your visit however, has renewed our hope especially and we are very grateful for your visit.”

On his part, the Palestinian ambassador informed Zulum of plans to support the Borno government in some areas of need.

“There are a lot of Palestinian companies in Nigeria, they are willing to work with Borno state government, we are ready to cooperate with you, we are ready to help in anything you want us to do that we can do,” he said.

He said many Nigerians are currently residing in Palestine, particularly Borno indigenes, some of whom have diligently served the government and people of Palestine.

He added that among Borno people in Palestine, one Fatima Barnawi was once a minister and a police chief.