From Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has distributed essential food items to widows and vulnerable members of the Christian community in preparation for the upcoming Christmas celebrations.
Over 6,000 people benefitted from the gesture, including 1,605 internally displaced persons (IDPs), each receiving a bag of rice, a carton of spaghetti, and a gallon of cooking oil.
This year’s event, which took place on Monday, marks the continuation of a consistent policy of support that has been sustained since Governor Zulum’s inauguration in 2019.
Every year, the governor approves the provision of Christmas support packages for the Christian community across the state, including free transportation for Christian residents who are non-indigenes of Borno to travel to their ancestral homes.
The initiative aims to ease the economic burden and ensure that the less privileged celebrate Christmas with joy and dignity.
While supervising the distribution, Governor Zulum emphasized the importance of peace, unity, and shared prosperity among all citizens of Borno State, regardless of religious or ethnic differences.
“It is my sincere hope that the long-standing relationship between Muslims and Christians in Borno State will continue to flourish. I pray that Almighty Allah, in His infinite mercy, blesses our communities and ensures peaceful coexistence between the two religions,” Zulum stated.
He added, “Islamic teachings have clearly stated that Muslims must live peacefully with non-Muslims, as preached in the Qur’an, and I believe the same is enshrined in the Bible.”
The Borno State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. John Bogna Bakeni, who received the governor, expressed profound gratitude for Zulum’s sustained empathy and inclusive leadership.
“Let me convey our deep gratitude to Your Excellency. This means a lot to us, the Christian community in Borno State. You have once again demonstrated your values of inclusion and compassion; you have given reason and hope to the Christian community to celebrate Christmas,” the CAN Chairman said.
