“A good beginning makes a good ending” -Louis L’Amour
Before Hon. Mai Mala Buni took over the mantle of leadership as governor of Yobe state last year, I wrote an article and published on this medium with the title “Buni: A blueprint for Yobe”. In the write up, I advised the governor not to appoint most of those that have been holding ranking positions from 1999 to the day of the publication. I said that they have failed the state directly or indirectly, insisting that with or without them, he will In sha Allah reach the apex of his political career.
I advised the governor to embark on paying surprise visits to all the sectors, especially schools, hospitals/clinics and secretariats in order to see proper bureaucracy running in his administration and not to allow sycophancy, godfatherism, tribalism and their actors to destroy his political career.
The piece also focused on three major areas that needed his quick intervention. They are education, health and rural development; and youth empowerment, urging him to take them as his top priorities. I said that the aforementioned areas needed a declaration of a “state of emergency” in order to halt their decline.
Luckily, on his inauguration and swearing in ceremony on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, he clearly stated that his administration will continue to pay special attention to security of lives and property, provide quality healthcare delivery, and improve education, agricultural production, infrastructural development, socio-economic development as well as youths and women empowerment.
On education, which many Yobeans are more concerned with, Gov. Buni stated that his administration will strive to ensure prompt payment of counterpart funds to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), to enable the state access UBEC grants to improve primary education. He said that his government will build more classrooms, employ more teachers as well as improve their welfare and provide additional instructional materials.
In line with his commitment to reform the education sector, Gov. Buni declared a state of emergency on primary and secondary education in the state. However, the questions are; has Gov. Mai Mala Buni been able to achieve some of his promises within one year? Is the “declaration of a state of emergency on education yielding positive results?
Yes! There is no doubt, Gov. Buni has shown bravery and great commitment in achieving some of his goals. He has, so far, completed more than 43 capital projects within a year.
The projects include: resuscitation of Yobe Aluminium Industry in Potiskum; Yobe Flour Mill Industry in Potiskum, Yobe Polythene and Woven Sack Company, Damaturu; completion of township roads and concrete drainages in Damagum, Buni Yadi, Babbangida, Jajimaji; construction and expansion of Specialist Hospital, Kumagannam in Yusufari LGA; construction of Damaturu Ultramodern Market; rehabilitation a expansion of Yobe State Secretariat, Damaturu; construction of classes and offices at School of Nursing; Damaturu; rehabilitation and expansion of PHC in Gadaka, Specialist Hospital Buni Yadi, Gujba, Yobe State Ministry of Women Affairs, Damaturu, Electrification of Sumsumma, Nayi Nawa and some communities in Damaturu LGA, Buni Yadi Town, Gujba; construction of 200 bed capacity hostel in School of Nursing, Damaturu; Maternal, New-born and Child Healthcare Complex at Yobe State University Teaching Hospital, Damaturu.
Others are: fistribution of 28 customised tricycle ambulances at Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH) in Damaturu; launched ‘Operation Haba Maza’ and distributed 30 latest Toyota Hilux to police; 500 youth trained on paint production technology, and supported with startup capital; 187 youth trained on Digital Photography, supported with capital (such as camera, printer, generator, cash, etc ); distribution of food and non food Items to 20,000 households across the state, in a program tagged ‘Gov. Buni Livelihood Support Project’ through SEMA; 50 youth are currently undergoing a program tagged ‘Buni Automotive’ training at Peugeot Automobile plant in Kaduna through SDGs, in which after their completion they would be given tools to venture into business for self reliance; hundreds of young petty traders (tea sellers, vendors at GSM market, vulcanizers) received cash support from him to expand their businesses, 187 young people trained as volunteers in Gov. Buni Livelihood Support Project through SEMA, and supported after completion of the project, which are too numerous to mention.
Unfortunately, none of these projects is sited in Gulani local government area. Thus, we pray and hope that the governor will consider Gulani by completing Gulani road, provision of electricity and building of general hospital in the area.
Fortunately, Gov. Buni has given us confidence through the appointment of some vibrant people as commissioners. I have no iota doubt that the appointment of people like Prof. Mohammed Munkaila and Dr. Sani Idriss as commissioners to oversee the Ministry of Education will yield positive result.
We also have confidence in commissioners for Ministry of Justice, Barrister Sale Samanja, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Mrs Mairo Amshi, Health and Human Resources, Dr. Muhd Lawan Gana, Works, Engr. Umaru Wakil, Trade and Industries, Hon. Barma Shettima, Women Affairs, Hajiya Hauwa Bah Abubakar, Information, Home Affairs and Culture, Hon. Abdullahi Bego, Budget and Planning, Muhd Garba Gagiyo, Transport and Energy, Abdullahi Usman Kukuwa, Local Govt and Chieftaincy Affairs, Yerima Lawan Mahmoud, Housing and Urban Development, Bukar Alhaji Dauda, Finance and Economic Development, Musa Mohammed, and Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, Abubakar Garba Iliya.
It’s obvious that the appointment of people like Dr. Mohammed Goje as SEMA boss, ES Scholarship Board, Dr. Kagu Abubakar, ES PHC, Dr. Kundi Machina, Dr. Ali Abbas, Prof. Alabe and other related appointees are also playing a vital role in his government.
Meanwhile, we have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of this administration and therefore we must commend the governor for his remarkable achievements so far. The journey has just started, let’s just gear up by praying for him for God’s guidance and protection.Yobe must be great.
Gulani writes via[email protected]
