It is now a statement of fact that His Excellency the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni is a leader with the Midas touch. A man with a humble and calm disposition.
His Excellency prior to his inauguration as the Executive Governor of Yobe State on May 29, 2019, was already a national figure, a core party man occupying one of the most sensitive positions in the ruling All Progressive Congress APC at the national secretariat in Abuja as the national Secretary. This presupposes that he had a pedigree which transcends beyond the state.
He is a quintessential leader, a practicing politician, a nationalist and a team player. Born on 11th November, 1967.
He was unanimously appointed as the caretaker chairman of the All Progressive Party APC on 25th June, 2020 to reunite and enthrone peace in the party and prepare the party for a successful national convention.
He was considered the right man for the job because of his sterling qualities and cognate wealth of experience.
Above all, Mr. President and top echelon of the party leadership felt that as a peace builder and a reconciliatory expert he is the only one that could return APC to its lost glory.
By virtue of this appointment as the caretaker chairman of APC, he remains the bride of all as the only Governor functioning in such dual capacity. His Excellency is combining his state responsibility with party affairs and so far so good he has been doing it seamlessly.
The people’s Governor of Yobe State has endeared himself to the people of Yobe State within one year and few months in the saddle, He has touched the lives of the ordinary people with his transformational leadership; transforming Yobe beyond the imagination of the people.
His Excellency turned one year on 29th May 2020, but has done marvelously well as if he had been there for years.
This one year and few months in office, his name now rings bell in Nigeria, because of his transformational leadership in Yobe State in the critical sector of the economy of the state.
His personality as the people’s Governor has also engendered peace in the once troubled state, insurgency and insecurity had been tackled and peace has come to stay in the state, hence investors are being attracted to invest in the state.
It is indeed hardly surprising that Yobe, under Governor Mai Mala Buni, is on the ascendency today. The governor’s tenacity to get things done, his clear vision for what he wants Yobe to become over the next four years and even over the next eight years, and his insistence that government policy must always sync with expert advice – all of these have ensured that Yobe can get farther along in the trajectory of socioeconomic development.
What is surprising, though is the degree to which so much has been achieved over so short a period of time and under the most austere and trying circumstances.
The challenges of the state has been addressed holistically by His Excellency this one year and few months of purposeful and visionary leadership with equanimity of mind and clear understanding of the task of governance.
The way and manner His Excellency addressed the matter of the COVID 19 pandemic in the state proved he could face any emergency situation in governance and come out triumphantly.
As a result of the governor’s uncommon leadership style, Yobe remains one of the few states in the country where government was able to do what was necessary to protect people against COVID – 19 without subjecting them to a hardship that could be avoided.
Some of the notable giant strides of the people’s governor of Yobe state this one year and few months in the saddle can be seen from the following transformational projects:
- The signing of the MOU with family Homes Ltd for the construction of 3600 affordable Housing units in Yobe.
- Construction of Potiskum Trailer Park which is ongoing.
- Approval of N365 million for payment of local government retirees.
- Approval of the implementation report of the technical committee that was set up to revive Basic and Secondary education in the state.
- The construction of Buni – Yadi Township Road and the renovation of the General Hospital in Gujbe LGA.
- The Ground Breaking Ceremony for PotiskumTrailer Park and Mechanics’ village will provide direct job to 5000 people.
- Governor Buni performed the resuscitation ceremony for Potiskum Aluminum and flour/feed Mills Company.
- The construction of 3,600 Housing Units Financed by Family Homes Funds Ltd across Yobe State.
- Partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in an effort to strengthen partnership in Healthcare and Agriculture.
- The declaration of First Yobe Education summit open by His Excellency, appointed chairman and members of technical committee on reviving education in the state.
- Construction of ongoing capital projects (Roads and Cargo Int. Airport) in Damaturu.
- Partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco on Agriculture and Youth Empowerment.
- Raising of the Yetim Case Orphanage Home Monthly Allocation from N500,000 to N1, 000,000.
- Creating the enabling environment for peace and investment in the state.
Obviously, the best is yet to come as His Excellency is determined to lift the people of Yobe from poverty as his administration looks forward to giving the people of the state more dividends of democracy in the next three years and more.
