Abba Dukawa
The purpose of human life is to serve, to show compassion and the will that would help others. Governor Hon Mai Mala Buni has been described by many as gentle, generous, humble, trustworthy, extremely loyal and down-to-earth, Mai Mala, displayed high and esteemed leadership qualities which endeared to the people of the state.
In the lives of many, birthdays are usually periods for sober reflections.It is period for stocktaking. Numerous personalities with eyes on the verdict of history use such occasions to reflect on their contributions to the betterment of humanity.
Governor Mai Mala Buni is renowned for his exceptional ability to connect with people beyond his immediate circle, fostering meaningful friendships and partnerships. Those familiar with him attest that he finds fulfillment in helping others, always seeking opportunities to lend a hand or share his resources. A fellow governor aptly described him as ‘Dogo mai hanun kyauta’ (The tall man with a generous hand), a testament to his selfless leadership and commitment to the well-being of others.
Buni’s bold measures have set him apart as a leader, introducing reforms that transform state institutions for the betterment of the people. His politics, character, and vision are shaped by the philosophy of emancipation and improving lives, inspired by the late Aminu Kano. This guiding principle drives his commitment to creating positive change.
Honorable Mai Mala Buni is a man of his word, known for his boldness and unwavering commitment to his promises.
He commands respect from his colleagues and people of Yobe and beyond due to his articulate expression of ideas and thoughts.
As he celebrates 57 years of dedicated service to humanity, he is revered as a visionary leader, selfless, and uncommon Nigerian who prioritizes others’ feelings over his own. Governor Buni’s leadership philosophy emphasizes the well-being of the masses, refusing to sacrifice their interests for political gain or personal agendas.
His tireless efforts to address pressing concerns in Yobe State have earned him a reputation as a people’s governor, distinguished by his hard work and brilliance.
He was elected as the yobe state governor at very critical situation in the state as Yobe had its own bitter taste of the Boko Haram insurgency, When he took over the mantle of leadership on 29th May, 2019, There were many communities that remained inaccessible due to the threat posed by the insurgents in Gujba and Gulani Local Government Areas. now normalcy has returned to the insurgency most-ravaged areas, and reconstruction, resettlement, and rehabilitation of communities. In almost all parts of the state, people are now moving about pursuing their legitimate goals without hindrance.
Even though the state face scarce resources at its disposal, but the administration have been able to execute and complete the rehabilitation of Katarko-Goniri and Siminti-Godowoli roads, rehabilitation work is ongoing along Geidam-Bukarti, Bayamari-Yunusari, and Yunusari-Kanamma roads.
The administration undertaking new intercommunity road construction projects of the Damaturu-Kalallawa 25.5-kilometre dual carriageway for easier access to the Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo airport and completed the dualization of Abattoir Junction-New Bye-pass Roundabout along Potiskum road for smooth movement of high number of traffic.
“Buni’s administration also constructing Damagum-Gubana, Bulanguwa-Kumagannam, Nguru-Bulanguwa, Danchuwa-Garin Abba-Garin Bingel, Chumbusko-Tagali, Nguru Highway-Karasuwa Galu town, Fika-Maluri, Jaji Maji-Karasuwa town, and Kukuri-Chukuriwa-Dawasa intercommunity roads, among others.
“Similarly, contracts have been awarded for the construction of township roads in Damaturu, Nguru, Potiskum, Gashua, and Geidam in addition to the earlier township roads constructed. In total, over 500km roads are being executed by the state government with a view to opening up the communities and their adjoining settlements for enhanced socio-economic activities.
“Under Buni’s administration mass housing policy, 2,350 houses across the 17 local government areas have been constructed, and the estate provided with basic facilities, Through the Yobe State Education Trust Fund, the governor his administration has been able to establish six new model schools, seven mega schools, nine new government girls day senior secondary schools, eight new co-education government day senior secondary schools, and an additional one for boys across the state. Over 4,000 teaching and non-teaching staff were recruited and posted to various primary and secondary schools, and 26,000 teachers were trained or retrained to enhance their capacities.
The administration Provided one functional primary healthcare centre in each of the 178 Electoral Wards of the State, so far over 140 have been completed and commissioned.
The administration also procured and launched 88 customised tricycle ambulances and distributed to remote areas to ease movement of patients to the health centers. Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA) was established and over hundred Thousand people including civil servants and other members of the general public, have enrolled in the scheme. The scheme enables patients to pay only 10% of the total cost of medication.
The Yobe State Drugs and Medical Consumable Management Agency (YODMA) also established with a total drugs worth over billion of Naira to address drugs and medical supply system needs of the State.
In addition, the State Emergency Medical Ambulance and Yobe State Healthcare and Health-related Facilities Inspection and Monitoring Agency was established to boost healthcare delivery in matters relating to domestic and road traffic accidents and monitoring of health facilities to provide best standard practice.
The state provide free health services to pregnant women, children under five and for accident victims for the first 48 hours, in addition to free dialysis for patients of kidney ailments. The administration effectively collaborate with development partners in the implementation of programmes against child killer diseases, among others.
Thus, Federal Ministry of Health has recognised Yobe as the most improved state in terms of immunisation coverage, from 16% to 65%.
Yobe State tertiary healthcare delivery service was enhanced with the provision of a well-equipped Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) Complex at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital. The complex has 300-bed capacity with 7 blocks comprising the Gynaecology Clinic Ward, Obstetric Theatre, Labour and Delivery Suites, Emergency Paediatric, Paediatric Road, and a Special Baby Care Unit.T he complex has vastly increased the Teaching Hospital‘s bed capacity to over 700 and made it the biggest and one of the most equipped hospitals in the country.
Bunis administration hope to reduce the incessant travel of patients outside the country and enable the citizens save medical foreign exchange for the state and the country., The teaching hospital has state of the art equipment including radio-diagnostic center equipped with MRI, 164 slides CT scan, Mammography, digital/mobile Xray, Ultra Sound among others. Our aim is to make Yobe State the hub of medical tourism in the Country.
In order to boost the manpower need of the state, particularly paramedical staff, the Shehu Sule College of Nursing, Damaturu, was provided with adequate teaching, learning, and welfare facilities like construction of 200 bed capacity student hostel, automatic employment to graduates of college, additional classrooms and demonstration room, wall fencing and tarred roads with drainage.”
25 villages were electrified while electricity was extended to over 200 different locations in the state government rural electrification programme, in addition to the rehabilitation of some 33 KVA lines.
The administration ensured the provision of a 24-hour power supply to all the general hospitals in the state, as well as provision of generator sets to some government establishments,” Mr Buni added.
In his continuous efforts to boost commerce and promote industrialization, the administration have reactivated the Sahel Aluminium Company, Yobe Flour and Feed Mills Company, and Pre-stressed Concrete Pole Company. so far Buni’s administration completed and commissioned the Ibrahim Geidam Ultra Modern Market, Damaturu; Senator Ahmed I. Lawan Modern Market, Gashua; and the Sheikh Ngibirima Ultra Modern Market, Nguru, while construction works are ongoing in Geidam and Potiskum Markets.
“Furthermore, construction of Potiskum Truck Transit Park and Mega Shopping Mall in Damaturu are ongoing also, efforts are ongoing to establish three 3 seed processing factories in Damaturu, Nguru, and Machina towns.
To further boost commercial activities, the administration constituted the Ease of Doing Business Council under his chairmanship and investors can now get easy access to information on the administration business enabling reforms and potentialities of the State.
In order to modernise and change the way people practice agriculture, the following measures have been carried out, the state has procured, 7500 metric tons (250 trucks) of NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer for the 2019/2020 cropping season and sold to farmers at highly subsidized price of N5,000.00 per bag. His administration effort to enhance crop production, the government has now placed emphasis on the dry season cultivation of crops to further boost production for the attainment of food security in the state.
The administration have procured 1500 metric tons (50 Trucks) of NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer to support 2022/2023 irrigation farming in the state. These fertilizers have since been distributed and sold at a subsidized rate of N13,000.00 per bag through open market sales to the general public and allocation to LGAs, Ministries, Agencies, Farmers Cooperative Societies, Large Scale Farmers, among others. Nevertheless , through Public Private Partnership, we have procured 1,500 metric tons of Neem-coated NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer to support rain-fed crop production for 2023 farming season.Under this arrangement, a company supplied the fertilizerwhile Government on its part sold the fertilizer to farmers at the rate of N13,000.00 per bag which translated to a subsidy of N12,000.00 per bag.
In it’s continued effort to boost agricultural input Buni’s administration purchased forty units (40) of Mersey Ferguson Tractors (MF375) and were sold out to large scale farmers on loan at a subsidized price of N11,025,000.00 without any interest payable within four years.
Buni’s administration Established Livestock Development Centers (LDG) in the three Senatorial Districts in the state in phases, starting with Jakusko/Nasari LDC (Zone C) in the year 2021/2022, Gurjaje LDC (Zone B) in 2022/2023 and Bade Gana LDC (Zone A) 2023/2024.
Toward achieving his socioeconomic blueprints to the state Hon Buni wooing local and international investors toward invest in state deposits natural minerals resources like the gypsum and limestone deposits.
MMB attended the Istanbul Public Private Partnership [PPP] where the governor and the investor discussed include the establishment of a cement factory in the state, financing of education and road projects and small business micro finance and He also met representative Qatari investors from the office of Sheikh Saoud Bin Nasser Bin Khalid al-Thani aimed to exploring an investing partnership to set up a cement company and meat processing factory in Yobe State.
In June 2020, the All Progressives Congress (APC) party underwent a significant transformation when its national working committee was dissolved, and a new interim committee was established. Chaired by Hon. Mai Mala Buni, this Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) has been instrumental in healing the party’s internal divisions. Under Governor Buni’s leadership, the party has made notable strides in repositioning itself to appeal to Nigerians and progressive-minded individuals.
The party has witnessed a surge in defections, with notable figures joining its ranks. These include the governors of Zamfara, Ebonyi, and Cross River states, as well as Chairman Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign organization, former Ogun state Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and Lt. Gen. Ihejirika. Additionally, two former speakers of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and Dimeji Bankole, and Barnabas Gemade, former PDP chairman, have also joined the APC. These developments are a testament to Governor Buni’s effective leadership and vision, which have yielded positive results for the party.
Wishing him sound health and wisdom to deliver on the mission #ForAGreaterYobeState.
Dukawa public affairs analyst write in from Abuja and can be reach at abbahydukawa@gmail.com
