Former Military Governor for Borno, retired Col. Abdulmumini Aminu, visits ABU, calls for unity in the North

Former Military Governor of old Borno State, Colonel (rtd) Abdulmumini Aminu, on Monday, August 18, 2025, paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Adamu Ahmed.

Col. Aminu, who governed Borno State between 1985 and 1988, is currently the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Federal University, Birnin Kebbi. During his visit, he held discussions with the Vice-Chancellor represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Ahmed Doko Ibrahim and other members of the university management.

Speaking during the visit, the retired army officer expressed concern over the growing polarisation of northern Nigeria along ethnic and religious lines. He lamented that the region, once united, had become divided and disorganised, unable to speak with one voice.

“We are not serious at all as a region. We are so polarised, so divided; we don’t respect each other. We fear each other and we are no longer as strong as we used to be. Until we get this off us, we cannot go anywhere as a region,” he said.

Col. Aminu urged northerners to change their attitudes by respecting one another’s ethnic and religious differences, stressing that unity was critical for the progress of the region and Nigeria at large. He also emphasised the importance of parental guidance in shaping society and called for improved access to quality education, particularly at the primary and secondary school levels.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ahmed, commended Col. Aminu for his candid views, noting that the region had contributed to its own challenges. He remarked that northern Nigeria’s disunity and underdevelopment had negatively impacted the entire country.

Prof. Ahmed expressed appreciation for the former governor’s visit, saying the university community had gained valuable insights from his experience. He added that the institution would extend an invitation to Col. Aminu to speak to a wider audience in the future.